Rooney set for Man Utd comeback

At 11:22 GMT, Monday, 16 February 2009

Wayne Rooney scored his sixth league goal of the season against Wigan Wayne Rooney is set to make his Manchester United return this week after five weeks out of action with a hamstring injury. The England striker's comeback could be as soon as Fulham's midweek visit to Old Trafford. "Wayne should be ready for Saturday's game against Blackburn, we're quite confident of that," manager Sir Alex Ferguson told MUTV. "He may have a slight chance of being fit for the bench on Wednesday." Rooney has been absent since limping off after scoring an early winner in the 1-0 victory against Wigan on 14 January. Although he was initially ruled out for three weeks, Manchester United staff had warned that his recovery may take longer. Rooney also missed England's 2-0 friendly defeat against European champions Spain in which Aston Villa pair Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor started up front. United have put together seven consecutive wins in all competitions without the forward, progressing in both cups and moving from two points behind Liverpool in Premier League to two points clear of their rivals.