UEFA Europa League

Rooney absent for United

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United's Europa League clash with Ajax after picking up a throat infection.

Rooney developed the problem following last week's first leg in Amsterdam and, although he reported for training on Wednesday, he was quickly sent home in the hope he will recover in time for Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Norwich.

"Wayne is out,'' said Ferguson. "He has a really bad throat.

"There were traces of it in Amsterdam and we gave him some medication but it got worse.

"He has been in bed over the weekend and came in today for the first time and we are trying hard to get him right for Sunday.''

As United are 2-0 up from the away leg and appear certain to book a last-16 encounter with either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao, Rooney might not have played anyway given the number of players Ferguson feels must be involved after their recent lack of game time.

Young French midfielder Paul Pogba may also come into contention, although it seems more likely the 18-year-old, whose contractual position remains unresolved, will be on the bench.

"It is possible we could give Pogba a run-out,'' said Ferguson.

"It depends because there are a lot of players who need a game; Nani, Young, Hernandez, Cleverley, Smalling, Jones.

"Those players will all play and we hope to put a sprinkling of experience amongst it.''

Ajax coach Frank de Boer has challenged his players to follow Basle's lead and knock United out of Europe.

The Dutch side would have to pull off an upset to progress, but they can look to the example of Basle who came back from 2-0 down at half-time to take a 3-2 lead in Manchester.

In terms of shocks at home in Europe this season, though, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have already suffered one, with Basle managing to come back from 2-0 down at half-time to take a 3-2 lead in Manchester.

Only a goal at the death from Ashley Young salvaged a 3-3 draw for United from the Champions League group game and they eventually crashed out of the competition after a 2-1 loss to the same opposition in Switzerland.

De Boer knows his side will have a major task to turn the tie around, but said: "Basle managed to draw with United and we are trying to do something similar here as them - get a result.

"We are not here just to see the scenery and we will see after the game what the result is.

"It was a difficult first game when we lost at home. We will try to make life difficult for United - overall, it is a great opportunity for our players to play this game.

"There were some positives from the match in Holland and we want to repeat those things here.''