Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has insisted that injured captain Wayne Rooney will not be ready for England’s friendlies next month.
Rooney was initially ruled out for six weeks upon suffering a knee injury in United’s shock Premier League defeat to Sunderland a fortnight ago.
That would make him touch-and-go for the double header with Germany and Netherlands, but Van Gaal has categorically ruled out the England skipper.
He has made it clear that Rooney must focus on getting fit to play for the Red Devils again before he can be considered for international duty by Roy Hodgson.
Van Gaal is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: “No, he won’t be ready for England next month.
“He has to be ready for us – not for the English team.”
United have had a brace fitted around Rooney’s knee in an attempt to stabilise the injury and ensure that the 30-year-old does not need surgery which could end his season.
Van Gaal added: “He has a brace now and he has to wear it for two-and-a-half weeks and then we have to look again. So I cannot say anything about that now. For now, he is resting because of the brace.”
Rooney’s absence for the Three Lions will give the likes of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane the chance to stake their Euro 2016 claims.
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