Rooney to feature for United at Wembley

Jose Mourinho was pleased to see Wayne Rooney end speculation about his immediate future, with the Manchester United manager confirming his captain will be involved in tomorrow’s EFL Cup final.

Talk had been growing over the 31-year-old soon making an Old Trafford exit, with his agent Paul Stretford understood to have been in China this week speaking to interested clubs.

However, Rooney committed his future to United in a statement released to Press Association Sport on Thursday evening, saying he wanted to remain at the club during this “exciting time”.

“He did it in exactly the right moment because I think your question is the last question about Wayne Rooney, and I think it should be the last until the end of the season,” the United boss said.

“And no doubt he is involved for the game.”

There remains doubts over Phil Jones’ fitness following a foot complaint, but Michael Carrick is available for the Wembley clash after sustaining a calf issue in Wednesday’s 1-0 Europa League last-32 second leg victory at St Etienne.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored the winner in France but will now miss the EFL Cup final after going off with a hamstring injury midway through the first half.

Martin Caceres and Sofiane Boufal are hoping to be included in Southampton’s cup final squad.

Uruguay defender Caceres could be handed a Wembley debut following his recent move to Saints as a free agent, while club record signing Boufal is battling to be fit after an ankle injury.

Mourinho was not so pleased by United’s Europa League pairing with Russian side FC Rostov, describing it as “a bad draw in every aspect”.

Picture: Getty Images. Jose Mourinho alongside Wayne Rooney at training.