Manchester United will have to make do without Wayne Rooney in Thursday's Europa League tie against Ajax due to a throat infection.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping the striker will recover in time for their Premier League trip to Norwich on Sunday, but he admits that is far from certain he will be fit.
Fergie claims the England international picked up the problem during last week's trip to Amsterdam for their first leg clash with the Dutch giants, and although he started training this morning, Rooney was quickly sent home to rest.
"Wayne is out tomorrow," said the Scot. "He has a really bad throat. There were traces of it in Amsterdam and we gave him some medication but it got worse.
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He has been in bed over the weekend and came in today for the first time and we are trying hard to get him right for Sunday."
United head into Thursday's game at Old Trafford holding a 2-0 lead from the first game as they look to set up a tie against either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao in the last 16.