Ferguson says Rooney is certain to start after minor Anfield role

Under normal circumstances, a trip to face the ailing Romanian champions, sandwiched in between key Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City would be the cue for Ferguson to rest many of his senior players.

That opportunity was denied to the champions’ boss when his team tossed away a two-goal lead against FC Basle at Old Trafford three weeks ago.

Ashley Young salvaged a point for the Red Devils but with just two points from their opening two games, United lie third in Group C and are urgently in need of victory against a side who are yet to pick up a point.

So Rooney, surprisingly omitted from Ferguson’s starting line-up for the weekend trip to Anfield because he was “devastated” at picking up a three-match ban that will rule him out of the entire European Championships if England fail to emerge from their group, will get his chance.

“He’ll be playing (tonight),” Ferguson declared. “When the initial news came through it was a definite blow for him. He didn’t expect that. None of us did.

“It was a silly action but it wasn’t seriously dangerous. When he realised getting a three-match ban meant missing all the games for England and might not be involved at all, it is not easy to qualify in major championships, that resonated in Wayne’s mind.

“But actually, when he came on he was quite bubbly. He was full of energy and enthusiasm. He was desperate to get on, which is good.”

United’s neighbours City also face a vital game, at home to Villarreal, after collecting just one point from their opening two games in Group A of the competition.

City need to kickstart their European campaign after their disappointing 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich three weeks ago, a game remembered for Carlos Tevez’s alleged refusal to play as a substitute.

League games against Blackburn and Aston Villa have been won convincingly since, but the Tevez issue has cast a shadow over the club.

He is the subject of disciplinary proceedings and is highly unlikely to be recalled tonight.

City manager Roberto Mancini did not want to discuss the situation yesterday, saying: “We need to think only about the team, the Champions League and the Premier League.”

Sergio Aguero trained yesterday and could return to the side after injury with Mario Balotelli, impressive in the 4-1 defeat of Villa on Saturday, suspended.

David Silva, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko, all substitutes at the weekend as Mancini juggled his resources, could also come back in.