Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney a doubt for Arsenal clash after withdrawing from England squad with knee injury
Jordan Henderson had already been announced as England captain against Spain before Rooney pulled out
Sponsored by
WAYNE ROONEY faces a battle to be fit for Manchester United’s crunch clash with Arsenal on Saturday after being sent home from England duty last night.
The Three Lions skipper – who was set to make his 120th international appearance – will not feature against Spain tomorrow due to a knee injury.
Earlier today, Jordan Henderson was announced as stand-in skipper for the match against La Roja.
Rooney follows in the footsteps of Harry Kane, who left the England camp yesterday to continue his rehabilitation with Tottenham.
Kane hasn't played a full match for club or country since getting injured in August.
Wayne Rooney and Ryan Bertrand were doubts for the clash with Spain, admitted Gareth Southgate, but the Southampton left-back has remained with the squad.
England boss Southgate said before Rooney's withdrawal: "They weren't ready to train today so they must be a doubt, but we'll have to look later.
"I wouldn't start Wayne in this game anyway, so we'll decide which route to go.''
If Rooney doesn't recover for the crunch clash against the Gunners, Jose Mourinho will face a crisis up front.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for the Arsenal game after being booked by referee Neil Swarbrick at Swansea.
Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester United news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
The Swede apologised for his 5th yellow card of the season, saying: "You know what? Every time I try to play my game by being strong, and going into the tackles, or whatever it is, I get a yellow card. I don't know
what the explanation was because I think I was too tired and I didn't hear him [the referee].
"It is what it is. In England, the football is hard, it's physical. I just have to accept it. I've got to be professional.
"I'm sorry I am suspended for the next game. I wish I wasn't as it's a game I really wanted to play in. But I have trust in my team-mates and the team and I know they can do fine also without me."