{Manchester United\u2019s hopes of finishing in a Champions League position could suffer a severe blow as fears grow that Wayne Rooney may be out for three weeks with a groin injury.}<\/p>\n
As David Moyes\u2019s squad were given the day off on Wednesday, the manager will have a clearer idea of Rooney\u2019s condition when the players return to training at their Carrington base on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Last week the striker was sent away for a warm-weather break in Egypt with his family and one of United\u2019s fitness experts to help his recovery from an abductor problem. But it now seems that he will miss Sunday\u2019s crucial trip to Chelsea and could be out for the rest of the month.<\/p>\n
If so, Moyes\u2019s hopes of clawing back United\u2019s deficit of five points on Liverpool in fourth place would take a severe hit as the forward could miss three Premier League games, with Robin van Persie still recovering from a thigh problem.<\/p>\n
Rooney would also miss Wednesday\u2019s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland at Old Trafford, a tie in which United must overcome a 2-1 deficit from the first match.<\/p>\n
Moyes has accepted a Football Association charge of misconduct for questioning the officiating after the game at Sunderland, with the manager requesting a non-personal hearing from the commission that will decide his punishment.<\/p>\n
The manager is likely to receive a fine, with Liverpool\u2019s Brendan Rodgers receiving an \u00a38,000 penalty last week when accepting the same charge for questioning the integrity of the referee, Lee Mason, who officiated his side\u2019s defeat at Manchester City on Boxing Day.<\/p>\n
Rodgers erred by asking why Mason, who hails from Greater Manchester, had taken charge of the match. Stoke City\u2019s Mark Hughes and Chelsea\u2019s Jos\u00e9 Mourinho have also each been fined \u00a38,000 for accepting the same misconduct charge from the FA.<\/p>\n
Moyes was charged after his criticism of the \u201cterrible\u201d officiating at the Stadium of Light. The Scot was unhappy with the free-kick awarded by Andre Marriner that led to Ryan Giggs\u2019s own goal and with the second-half penalty awarded by the referee. The manager said then of the officials: \u201cWe\u2019re having to play them as well as the opposition at the moment. It\u2019s really terrible, it really is. We\u2019re actually beginning to laugh at them, that\u2019s the thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moyes remains hopeful of taking Real Madrid\u2019s F\u00e1bio Coentr\u00e3o on loan until the end of the season. Although Carlo Ancelotti, the Real head coach, has repeatedly claimed that no players will leave during this transfer window, a deal is in place between the left-back\u2019s agent, Jorge Mendes, and United regarding the player\u2019s terms, with the sticking point potentially being if Real can get a replacement to cover the position.<\/p>\n
Rio Ferdinand has revealed he has ambitions to manage in the Premier League when he retires, with the defender also insistent that United can finish in a Champions League berth this season.<\/p>\n
Ferdinand, answering fans\u2019 questions on twitter, was asked where he would like to be in five years time. \u201cAlive\u2026..in London & managing in the PL!!,\u201d he tweeted.<\/p>\n
Nemanja Vidic is also confident that the champions can improve their form in the latter part of the campaign, with the captain identifying the next few weeks as vital. \u201cWe have to win regularly and in the next month we will know exactly where we are,\u201d he said. \u201cBy the end of January and start of February we will show what our position is and what our capability is in the Premier League. Then, of course, the Champions League starts up again. This is an important time for us and we all want to do well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also backed Moyes, who is enduring an inaugural season as manager. \u201cThe manager is a good character and does that [manages the squad] but it\u2019s up to the players too. We\u2019re a group and it\u2019s a group responsibility to deal with those situations,\u201d Vidic said<\/p>\n
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