Rooney faces anxious wait over return

Wayne Rooney is sweating over his place in Manchester United’s squad for the club’s biggest game of the season, against Anderlecht in Belgium tomorrow, despite returning to training this week.

United are due to train at Carrington this morning before flying to Brussels for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. But it remains to be seen if the England captain makes the squad, after being frozen out by Jose Mourinho ahead of what looks an inevitable exit from Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old missed United’s past two Premier League matches with what Mourinho cited as pain in his ankles, but trained last week and wants to travel to Belgium.

Mourinho has prioritised the Europa League as the most viable route into the Champions League, as well as offering the chance of another trophy after the League Cup and Community Shield.

Rooney’s absences have often been put down to niggling injuries. Sources at Old Trafford have been shocked at how quickly Rooney has dropped out of the picture since Christmas. He has made just one league start since Dec 17, in the 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth 4½ weeks ago, when he looked short of match fitness. He has played just 449 minutes of football in almost three months for United.

Rooney is most likely to head to China or the United States this summer, when he will enter the final year of his £300,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford. Ross Barkley has been contacted by Merseyside Police after the Everton midfielder was the victim of an “unprovoked attack” in a Liverpool city centre bar. A force spokesman said: “The victim, who was not injured, has been contacted by police and enquiries into the incident are ongoing, with CCTV opportunities being explored.” League One and League Two clubs will vote next month on whether to revise the format of the Checkatrade Trophy or scrap it entirely. The options, which also include the competition reverting to English Football League clubs only, were spelt out by EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey at a meeting of the 48 clubs yesterday.