Fergie hopeful over injuries

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful that Wayne Rooney will be fit to face Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The striker, who is appealing a two-match Football Association ban, missed training on Tuesday morning with a bruised shin.

Rooney was undergoing treatment for the injury and so Ferguson has his fingers crossed that the England international will be available for the all-British first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Asked about Rooney's absence at the pre-match press conference at Lord's, Ferguson said: "He missed training this morning, he was having treatment.

"It's the front of his shin, a really bad bruise, but we hope he'll be okay."

Ferguson was upbeat about the likely reinforcement of his defensive line, with a number of injury problems at the back beginning to ease, including Rio Ferdinand.

"We have had some injury problems, particularly in the defensive positions but hopefully that is coming to an end.

"(Jonny) Evans is available probably tomorrow. He was suspended at the weekend after a red card. Ferdinand has been training for over a week, but whether he is ready for this game I'm not sure.

"Rafa Da Silva is available, he's been training for over a week after his hamstring, and (John) O'Shea and (Wes) Brown are back training, so definitely the situation is getting better.

"Hopefully that will be the case tomorrow."