Rooney off to USA as Ferguson protects his striker

It is the second time this season the Manchester United boss has broken with tradition to protect his star striker, having kept him out of the September meeting with former club Everton to save the 25-year-old from inevitable abuse about his personal life.

Ferguson must hope this latest intervention triggers a better reaction than the first as Rooney's omission at Goodison Park was widely interpreted as the moment when the England forward began to get cold feet about committing his future to the Old Trafford cause.

All that disenchantment exploded over an amazing 11-day period last month, which started immediately after England's Euro 2012 draw with Montenegro when Rooney openly questioned his manager's assertion that he was suffering from an ankle injury.

The ill-feeling was eventually calmed and a new five-year contract signed. But the negativity surrounding Rooney has proved harder to remove.

Wife Coleen was critical of some reporters who headed out to Dubai where the Rooneys enjoyed a luxurious break last week, while this week the family have been condemned by neighbours for noise that was made at a party they held at their home in Prestbury.

Presumably, Rooney is going with this in mind as much as the medical facilities he will have access to at the Nike World Campus in Oregon, which as plush as it may be, cannot be greatly superior to the state-of-the-art equipment available at United's own training HQ at Carrington.

"We have the facilities, we just thought it might be in the interests of Wayne and the club, for him to have a change of scenery for a little while," said United assistant manager Mike Phelan.

"He has had a lot of attention lately and we are going to give him the best opportunity that he possibly can to be in good shape when he returns.

"We are looking at the overall picture.

"We are going to try to create an overall environment for him to be fit in a short space of time.

"He needs the conditioning. We all agree with that. He can go there without the attention he would get around here."

Rooney has made just one 19-minute substitute appearance since he was replaced at Bolton with half an hour remaining of what turned out to be a disappointing draw.

The 25-year-old has scored just once for his club this season, from the penalty spot against West Ham in August, and has not managed a goal for United in open play since the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich in March when he suffered an ankle injury that coincided with his alarming dip in form.

In sending him to the United States, Ferguson is ensuring Rooney will miss next Wednesday's Manchester derby, which splits Premier League matches with Wolverhampton and Aston Villa.

And, as Fabio Capello will name his squad for England's friendly with France next Saturday, Rooney will presumably miss that as well before a potential reappearance against Wigan at Old Trafford on November 20.

"It is a week's intensive conditioning, under the supervision of our medical team and our sports science department," confirmed Phelan.

"Wayne will leave tomorrow and come back next Saturday.

"If that goes according to plan, he will be available when he returns."

Despite missing his weekly press conference due to a virus that should not prevent him being at Old Trafford for this afternoon's clash with Wolves, Ferguson also added his weight to the Rooney situation last night in a short statement to the club's official website.

"The simple reason Wayne is going to the US is to continue his rehabilitation programme and undergo a week of concentrated training and conditioning under the supervision of our medical and sports science staff," said Ferguson.

"We've experienced the fantastic facilities at Nike in the past and are happy for him to be there."

Van der Sar happy to put party on hold for silverware

Edwin van der Sar is happy to put his 40th birthday celebrations on hold to aid Manchester United's quest for silverware.

The veteran Dutchman passed the landmark birthday last weekend, when he was holed up with the United squad at their city centre base at the Lowry ahead of the Premier League win over Tottenham.

It is the same story this weekend as the Red Devils tackle Wolves at Old Trafford.

Since they had a trip to Turkey in midweek and next Wednesday face up to the stiffest of challenges when they cross town to Eastlands for the first derby of the season against Manchester City, there has not been much chance for Van der Sar to organise a party.

He will probably arrange something during the international break later this month given he abandoned his Holland career after Euro 2008 having amassed a record 130 caps.

But for now, Van der Sar is concentrating on keeping clean sheets as United work towards getting their Premier League title challenge back on track.

"I celebrated my birthday in the Lowry the day before the Tottenham game. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else," he smiled.

"I did have a quiet meal in town on Saturday night with some friends from Holland but I had two glasses of wine and that was about it because we had a game on Tuesday.

"Even this weekend it is going to be hard because we have a midweek game against City. I will just have to skip the celebrations for my 40th and do it another time."

Having joined an exclusive band of players to appear in the Premier League after their 40th birthday, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Van der Sar might carry on still further.

Certainly a couple of saves in Bursa on Tuesday proved his reactions are still of the highest order, even if a month ago he was coming to terms with the kind of blunder Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the former Ajax star has not made since he was at primary school.

"The weekend after the West Brom game was hard. But it has happened and it is over," he said.

Manchester United will look to cut the gap on leaders Chelsea today when they host Wolverhampton.