Dimitar Berbatov could take a key role in Manchester United's Champions League clash with AC Milan on Wednesday if they are without Wayne Rooney.

GettyImagesDimitar Berbatov looks likely to start ahead of Wayne Rooney

• Forum: Can United survive without Rooney?

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Rooney - who scored twice in the first leg to hand United a 3-2 lead - is a major doubt for the match at Old Trafford.

Rooney missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux, in which Paul Scholes hit his 100th league goal for United, after aggravating a knee injury during England's midweek victory over Egypt.

"Wayne is very doubtful for Wednesday," Ferguson said. "The Wembley pitch has killed him."

With Michael Owen unavailable for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury during the Carling Cup final - also at Wembley - Berbatov seems certain to start and Ferguson has confirmed he is in the frame.

Reports on Monday, however, have claimed Rooney could still be involved. The Sun suggests that the inflammation of his kneecap tendon will subside within three weeks and is not serious enough to prevent him playing.

Wes Brown's suspected broken metatarsal has added to Manchester United's injury woes. Brown picked up the injury against Wolves on Saturday and there are concerns that the England defender may have broken his fifth metatarsal - the one that takes the longest to heal.

Although Brown should have recovered in time for the World Cup, the timing is bad for Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of the Milan clash. Anderson (knee), Ryan Giggs (arm) and John O'Shea (leg) are also out while Jonny Evans missed the Wolves game.