Alex Ferguson has confirmed the date when Wayne Rooney and the other World Cup stars will return from their holidays. Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Park Ji-sung and Patrice Evra were given 28 days to recover from their extended seasons in South Africa, regardless of their playing time in the tournament.

They are expected to be at Old trafford for their first match in August, but will more than likely be sat watching from the Manchester United Hospitality Tickets.

Alex Ferguson expects that Wayne Rooney will be fit for the start of the new season. Wayne Rooney, who was part of the side that departed ignominiously in the second round, failed to score in four appearances and looked a shadow of the player who struck 34 times for United last season. Ferguson, however, denied that an ankle injury suffered during United's run-in had impacted upon Rooney's form in South Africa.

After failing to score in his eighth game in a row for England, an English bookmaker is offering 3/1 that Wayne Rooney will fail to find the net at the World Cup.

However, England fans should not be too despondent as he is 6/4 to score between three or four.

Spokesman Julian Knight said: "Rooney said he is saving his goals for the World Cup and we only hope this isn't a bet we are paying out on.”

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There are growing concerns over the fitness of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney who has been unable to complete a full 90 minutes in recent weeks.

England manager Fabio Capello reportedly has concerns about whether the Red Devils are rushing their star because of the race to win the Premier League title.

Rooney was previously used as a starter against Bayern Munich in the return-leg of the Champions League yet it was clear he was not 100% and he had to be substituted with a recurring ankle problem.

NICE to see Wayne Rooney giving his in-laws the bird after a recent stay at their house.

The Manchester United striker and wife Coleen have taught her parents’ pet parrot to say ‘Kai Wayne Rooney’ after their new grandson.

The African Grey will not stop repeating it, and a friend of the family said: “It’s driving everybody round the bend. Nobody knows how to stop it.

“At first it was hilarious. After seeing the baby, visitors would be taken off to hear the parrot. But now it’s really wearing thin. Nearly two months on, the bird still won’t shut up.”

England boss Fabio Capello admits he's told Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to forget about trying to help his midfield so much.

Capello loves Rooney's energy, but feels his game was being blunted by his willingness to always track back.

He told ESPN: "When I first met Rooney, I told him: 'You are one of the best players in the world.' But he was too much in the channels or centre midfield. He was not close enough to the goal, Rooney was not in front of the goal!

"So I told him: 'You have to get in front of the goal.' After two games, he understood.

Wayne, 24, dropped in at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital along with a handful of his Manchester United team pals.

Others who popped in to cheer up the young patients included Michael Owen, Jonny Evans, Ji-Sung Park and Gabriel Obertan.

The Premiership giants have raised more than £80,000 to provide accommodation for parents visiting their sick children at the centre

Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for Wayne Rooney to maintain the form that helped Manchester United to destroy Hull City on Sunday. Rooney scored his 14th goal of the season and created the other two in the team's 3-1 victory.

With Ferguson's defensive injury problems starting to ease, the United manager is now looking to build some momentum heading into the second half of a campaign which could yet end with his side being crowned champions for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League season.

MANCHSTER United's worst fears became reality today as Real Madrid start preparing a £60m bid for Wayne Rooney.

The Spanish giants have made the Old Trafford ace their No.1 summer target.

United plan to open new contract talks with Rooney next month about a possible £170,000-a-week deal.

But Madrid hope to turn Rooney's head and intend to pursue the England striker in the same way they trailed wing wizard Cristiano Ronaldo last season.