Manchester United: Rooney May Be Fit to Start Season

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Wayne Rooney could be fit in time for the start of the Premier League campaign on August 17. The 22-year-old contracted a mystery illness on United's tour of Nigeria, but has responded well to treatment and returned to training on Friday, however there is no guarantee that he will shake-off the illness in time.

"We've got a big job to do to get Rooney ready," said Ferguson. "With seven or eight days training we might make it. He is doing much better, the medical reports are good and we feel that he's clear of the virus."

With Cristiano Ronaldo injured, Nani suspended and Anderson on Olympic duty with Brazil, Ferguson is down to the bare bones of his squad, so Rooney's return to fitness would be a timely boost ahead of the opening fixture at home to Newcastle.

Ferguson also says that Ronaldo will be at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future. Ronaldo pledged his immediate future to Manchester United earlier this week, but stated that he would one day like to end up at Real Madrid.

That seemed to signal that this may be Ronaldo's final season as a Manchester United player but, speaking ahead of Sunday's Community Shield, Ferguson expressed confidence that the Portuguese winger will remain at the club for the four remaining years of his contract - and possibly even beyond.

"As he gets older, I think Cristiano will appreciate being here more and more," Ferguson said. "That happens with players the longer they stay here. They don't want to leave. It's unusual for anyone to want to leave Manchester United. Cristiano realizes that, too.

"We had a good meeting over in Portugal and clarified a lot of things. He was good, and I was pleased with that. That's why I was confident that everything was going to be all right. Cristiano will settle down and enjoy his career here. He's got four years on his contract, and hopefully at some point we would like to extend it. That's where we are."