Manchester: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is unlikely to risk injured striker Wayne Rooney against Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Rooney injured ligaments in his right ankle last Tuesday when United lost to Bayern 2-1 in the first leg.
"We have made some progress with the lad, the medical team have done fantastic, but I'm not prepared to take a risk when the player is not 100 per cent fit," Ferguson said on Tuesday. "We are looking more at the Manchester City game (on April 17), maybe Blackburn as a sub (on Sunday), but the boy is making good progress."
Ferguson, however, didn't rule out the possibility that Rooney would play against Bayern at Old Trafford.
"I don't think (he will be on the bench)," Ferguson said. "Maybe he will talk me into it. It's a difficult one."
Rooney has scored 34 goals this season as the team chases a fourth straight Premier League title and a third consecutive Champions League final appearance. Without Rooney on Saturday, United lost to Chelsea 2-1 and dropped into second place in the Premier League behind the Blues.
"It's not over ... and there's certainly work to be done, but that away goal does make a difference," Ferguson said. "The players aren't used to losing, so you hope it registers."
Without Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov would be expected to produce goals up front for United. Federico Macheda, an 18-year-old forward who scored Saturday, is another option.
Bayern prepared for second leg by beating Schalke 2-1 and returning to the top of the German standings, but Bayern coach Louis van Gaal also has injury concerns.
Winger Arjen Robben missed the first leg with a calf injury, but will be in the squad at Old Trafford, while central defender Daniel van Buyten picked up a leg injury on Saturday.
"I hope that both of them will be able to play," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "Manchester has somewhat better cards in hand but we have a small chance and we'll try to use it."
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