Rooney 'out two to four weeks'

Wayne Rooney will miss two to four weeks with a sprained ankle sustained during Manchester United's 2-1 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich, according to a report.

Sky Sports News claims the England striker will be available for the World Cup, despite leaving Bayern's Allianz Arena on crutches after turning awkwardly on his right ankle in the build-up to the home side's late winner.

However, it is a preliminary diagnosis as Rooney has not yet undergone a scan. United stayed the night in Munich after the game, and arrived back in the North-West on Wednesday afternoon. He will have a scan on Thursday,

If confirmed, the news will come as a massive relief to England coach Fabio Capello, with Rooney's presence in the squad seen as pivotal to the nation's World Cup chances.

However, it is a crushing blow to United's hopes of silverware, with the forward set to sit out a key phase of the season. Rooney will miss Saturday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash against Chelsea, and the return leg against Bayern.

He will also be a major doubt for the league games against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

After Tuesday night's game in Germany, Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It's too early to say. I don't think it's terribly serious, but we'll wait and see."

The injury occurred in the centre of the pitch after slight contact with Bayern striker Mario Gomez. Rooney went over on his ankle and leapt up in pain before collapsing to the turf in obvious discomfort.

Capello already has several injury headaches, with David Beckham ruled out of the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon, while left-back Ashley Cole, striker Jermain Defoe and winger Aaron Lennon both face a race against time to recover from ankle, hamstring and groin issues respectively.