Rooney's Return: Delayed Again And Again And Again

Sir Alex revealed that the best that injury-victim Rooney can hope for at Wigan is a place on the bench.

A hip injury, sustained at Blackburn and aggravated at Chelsea kept Wayne out of our sensational triumph over Barcelona and the 4-1 win over West Ham. Fergie told us before both games that Rooney could be fit. Same old story this time.

'He may be on the bench,' he said.

'He'll certainly be fit for the Champions League final.'

That, for me, means that Rooney is certainly out of Sunday's title decider - I'm just wondering why it can't be said so? Fergie told us before Barcelona that Rooney could make it but he didn't. He told us before West Ham that Rooney could make it but he didn't.

Then he told us he'll be certainly fit for the Wigan - yet now he's doubtful and I'm almost certain he won't make it. But don't worry, he'll play in Moscow. Well, I'll only believe that when I see him the starting line-up on May 21.

Nemanja Vidic is another who was supposed to be back for the Barcelona game but is still out. He should be back on Sunday, according to Fergie.

'I'm hopeful of having Vida. The next two training sessions are going to be very important for him.

'We'll have had eight days to prepare by the time the game comes round on Sunday which is a bonus. The training sessions have been quite light and all the little niggles have cleared up. The mood is very good in the camp.'

I'm thinking about placing a bet that neither Rooney nor Vidic will be in the 16-man match squad.