Manchester United Injury News: Players Who Need to Step Up in Rooney's Absence

On reflection, it was abundantly clear that Wayne Rooney simply wasn't fit for the Fulham match. His cameo appearance lasted a few minutes before Hugo Rodallega accidentally opened a huge gash in his leg.

This may have been a blessing in disguise—for Sir Alex and his need to manage his squad and for players such as Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

Together with the injuries to Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and the precautionary view on Nemanja Vidic and Rafael, there will be plenty of opportunity for Sir Alex to ring the changes against Newcastle on Wednesday.

In the past, he has used the Cups as an opportunity to blood younger players, but the key question is whether Alan Pardew will play a strong team.

So it seems likely that the manager will opt for a mix of players who need a game and Under 21s who may be prospects for the future.

Wayne Rooney may well return for the Tottenham match in place of the disappointing Shinji Kagawa who seemed in need of a break after the Liverpool match.

In the meantime, who may get an opportunity in his absence on Wednesday?

Danny Welbeck

It is arguable that Danny was in much better form than Rooney even before the injury. Certainly he showed that he can change a game against Fulham and Galatasaray, whether played wide or through the middle.

Sir Alex has commented on his "growing pains" in the past, as his body grew and adapted to the greater physical strains of top level football.

As always, the Carrington team takes great care with the physical well-being, development and recovery of their charges.

For example, Vidic was feeling his knee before the weekend and was rested accordingly. Sir Alex was also concerned when Northern Ireland played Jonny Evans for the full 90 minutes against Luxembourg—fresh back from his own recovery.

Danny now seems close to full maturity physically. He is 6 feet 1 inch and now 73kg, but is likely to fill out more through the characteristic Old Trafford "bulking up" programme.

He is strong on the ball, excellent in the air, highly skilled for a tall man and sound defensively. As he recognises his wider value to the squad he will see that he has an exciting future for United and England, where he could well compete with Wayne Rooney as first choice striker in coming years.

He will surely get a start in the Capital One Cup, with Newcastle probably giving a start to Cheick Tiote after his injury lay-off.

Chicharito

Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) had a sensational first season in the Premier League, scoring 20 goals in 45 appearances at just 22. He has an even more impressive record for the Mexican national team, with 26 in 41.

So he knows how to score at the highest level, even though he had for him a disappointing season last time—although a return of 12 in 36 games is not bad.

His form and reduced number of appearances can easily be put down to the concussion he suffered in July 2011. There had been some fears that this would inhibit his future career but these were downplayed by Sir Alex, who allowed plenty of time for recovery.

Chicharito would have liked to play in the Olympics this summer, but not surprisingly, Sir Alex insisted on a long break.

The only downside is that he didn't look particularly sharp on the preseason tour. However, this sharpness has been much more evident in the regular season.

Chicharito has been putting in a shift all over the park when United don't have possession. He has already scored one goal and could have had a couple more. He looks bigger and physically stronger since his return.

The logical decision for Sir Alex would be to start both him and Danny Welbeck on Wednesday. If either plays outstandingly, well this could put pressure on Rooney for Saturday's match at home to Tottenham. 

So soon after recovery, it would be no surprise to see Welbeck retained with Rooney coming on as sub.

However, with Kagawa likely to be rested against Spurs, Sir Alex may keep Hernandez on the bench on Wednesday, ready to come on and nick a win if needed.

Tom Cleverley

It seems like the ultimate irony that Tom Cleverley has started more matches for Team GB and England than he has for Manchester United in 2012.

And he hasn't done badly. While his last appearance for England was a damp squib, he has had excellent reviews previously.

Roy Hodgson is a convert to Tom's potential, who has had the media purring this summer with comparisons to Cesc Fabregas and a young Paul Scholes.

Without injuries to his squad and the vagaries of form, Sir Alex would have had the sort of headache he relishes, with a surfeit of players in almost every position.

Wayne Rooney will add to that headache when he's fit. Robin Van Persie may have established himself in the squad as MVP, but Rooney is more than just a No.9.

He can play out and out striker, in "the hole," on the wing or even in central midfield, where he ultimately sees himself.

The question as to who can fill the creative midfield role keeps rearing its ugly head. Sir Alex seems implacable, despite failing to land Luka Modric or Lucas Moura this summer.

There is no doubt in my mind that Wayne Rooney can fill this hole in midfield if he wants to and if he is fit enough. It may be that his thoughts earlier this month were a pragmatic response to the arrival of Robin Van Persie.

It would be good if Wayne feels his position in the team is far from certain. Sir Alex wants to play a different style and—while there is no reason why Wayne can't alternate with Shinji Kagawa behind Van Persie—there is equally little reason now why he shouldn't be sold to the highest bidder.

His fitness going into the Fulham match was a disgrace for the highest paid professional on United's books. Sir Alex has a memory like an elephant and while he rationalised the outcome of Rooney's "Mexican stand-off" in October 2010, he may have decided to move him on once he had adequate replacements.

Now some might say that Van Persie is too old to be a long term threat to Rooney. He will certainly sharpen up the Evertonian's attitude now that he has found himself out of favour.

Rooney needs to keep a few other things in mind when considering his future. Sir Alex seems to be linked with every bright young striker these days and that is no coincidence.

Look at the body shape of Van Persie and Henriquez. Or Will Keane and Macheda for that matter. These are fit young men who will never run to lard.

Nevertheless it is not fanciful for Wayne to prepare himself for a career in midfield. This is of course a threat to Tom Cleverley as much as anyone.

With Darren Fletcher possibly returning, Carrick a seeming fixture in midfield, Anderson waiting in the wings, Nick Powell showing good form and youngsters desperate to be included, Cleverley and Anderson must both consider what they are going to have to do to become a first team first choice.

For the time being, if Cleverley doesn't start on Wednesday that suggests that the boss has him pencilled in for a long overdue appearance on Saturday.

Wayne may be kicking his heels for a while longer if United keep producing results without him.

Macheda or King?

Federicho Macheda would do well to pray for opportunities this season. At best he must rank fifth in the pecking order for United strikers in the first team squad. If Will Keane had been fit he might have been another notch further down.

Few will forget the way that he burst to the public's attention by rescuing United against Villa at the tender age of 17.

Sir Alex has previously described Kiko as the best finisher at the club, but still he doesn't get his chance. To be fair to the lad, he has been very patient and has had much bad luck.

He went on loan to Sampdoria and got injured, and then to QPR and not only had an injury, but a new manager came in who bought more strikers.

He either has to have great fortitude as he looks to the future, or he needs to consider returning to Italy, where there would be no shortage of takers at the right price. 

It would be hard to see either Macheda or Josh King getting a start on Wednesday, but that doesn't mean they won't get some minutes. If the starting team has another lacklustre match and the bench comes in, it could possibly work against them. 

Josh King has warned that if he doesn't get game time this season he will be looking to move on. Yet another impatient young man who may be disappointed when the grass turns out to be not so green elsewhere.

Zeki Fryers has played one match for Standard Liege on 16 September but was dropped five days later and Paul Pogba has made only one start for Juventus.

Ravel Morrison is now playing for Birmingham in the Championship.

Nick Powell or Anderson

Where did Anderson go? OK he was injured, but did he also lose his way? Was Sir Alex really prepared to let him go in the summer for the right price—£10 million?

Meanwhile, Anderson has shown an intent to work hard to get his place back and has been included as a sub in the last two matches without getting a start.

There are plenty of rumours about him being offloaded and he certainly hasn't lived up to his vaunted huge potential as a youngster. Many articles said Spurs were interested but it is unlikely Sir Alex would sell to a Premier League rival when there could be healthy interest from abroad.

Nick Powell, on the other hand, looks to be on the up and up. There were no suggestions whatsoever that the 18 year old would go out on loan this season. Sir Alex sees huge potential. He has a rocket in both feet, is intelligent and aware and his game has already progressed from the talent that Crewe produced.

With Sir Alex's fixation on "game time" for his established stars and stars of the future, it is very possible that both could play, if only as subs.

Will Keane or Angelo Henriquez?

Possibly neither of these will feature this week.

Will Keane has a long term injury and Henriqez has not even been seen in the Reserves yet. Though, they are likely to be the future.

Henriquez looks uncannily like a young Ruud Van Nistelrooy in every respect. Sooner or later, Sir Alex has to look at him under English conditions. What better than to play him against Coloccini and Steven Taylor?

Will Keane would have had a first team squad place this season rather than going out on loan. He is a future England style and unlike some of his peers, is not going to sling his hook and leave for an illusion elsewhere.

Its a pretty juicy future scenario—perm any two from Welbeck, Chicharito, Henriquez and Keane after Robin Van Persie collects his pension. Which is of course not even mentioning King, Macheda, John Cofie, Jack Barmby or even Keane lookalike, James Wilson, only 16, who scored five against Newcastle on Saturday.

So Wayne won't feel a threat from them just yet, but he won't be starting on Wednesday and certainly isn't guaranteed a start on Saturday either, whether or not he's fit.

Competition is healthy. Sir Alex is a former striker and collects them like others collect autographs. He will have the luxury of choice over the next few years and unless at least four of the ones have been considered in this article show real promise, he will not be averse to buying a Falcao, Lewandoski or Damao.

Rio Ferdinand certainly thinks Henriquez might get a shout.

Other Opportunities

Robbie Brady was outstanding for Ireland against Oman. He has come on a great deal in the last six months alone. While he is not a substitute for Wayne Rooney, he may yet benefit from a changed formation that Ferguson could try.

Kagawa needs a rest. Ferguson can make the excuse that Rooney needs to be eased back in. The "League Cup" is far from Sir Alex's top priority and if he truly believes in the young talent at the club, he must give them their head.

Otherwise more could follow the likes of Fryers out of the door.

So it is reasonable to expect a mix of experience and youth on Wednesday. If Fletcher is fit he will start, because Carrick will certainly be rested. As well as Brady, Ryan Tunnicliffe is hammering down the door to get his chance.

Jesse Lingard, Michael Keane and Alexander Buttner are all likely starters. Rafel's knock could mean Keane starting at right back, in which case Scott Wootton will start in central defence. With only two and a half centre backs fit, Ferguson can't afford to take any chances, so Michel Fornasier may partner Wootton.

Sam Johnstone must surely get his chance, so a possible starting line-up could be:

Johnstone, Keane, Wootton, Fornasier, Buttner, Brady, Tunnicliffe, Fletcher or Cleverley, Lingard, Welbeck and Henriquez.

Possible substitutes: De Gea, Vermijl, Powell, Cole, Anderson, Macheda, Hernandez