Valencia v Manchester United - United retain focus despite Rooney absence

Posted Wednesday, September 29, 2010 by PA

Manchester United headed to Valencia without Wayne Rooney but nursing a deep determination to get their season back on track.

It could be argued Rooney's struggle for form has been a contributing factor to a stop-start opening that has seen United register four draws from seven matches in all competitions.

Yet that only tells part of the story, which is why Rooney's absence from the team flight to Spain through an ankle injury should have minimal effect.

Of far more importance is defensive solidity, which has been strangely absent for United so far but which they will undoubtedly require on Wednesday if they are to avoid defeat against a side that has shrugged off the summer departures of David Villa and David Silva to become the surprise early-season pace-setters in the Primera Division.

"It is going to be a difficult match," said midfielder Darren Fletcher. "People might say it is not the same Valencia because they have lost Villa and Silva. But as we have seen at Manchester United, when you lose good players others step up to the mark and take on more responsibility. They have had a fantastic start."

United, and in particular Rooney, cannot say the same. Dimitar Berbatov has been the Red Devils' stand-out offensive player so far this season and Michael Owen has scored three times in a week, so there was an argument that Rooney did not deserve to be selected this week anyway.

His ankle injury, which is set to keep him out for around three weeks, has provided a reason for Ferguson to leave him at home, which will allow the 24-year-old a chance to get his mind right following damaging allegations about his private life.

Confirming his absence at this early stage, matchday two should be relatively free of diversions.

None of this should deviate Rooney's team-mates - also shorn of the injured Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs - from their task of avoiding defeat in one of Europe's most impressive stadiums, the Mestalla.

"We have picked up experience of playing in Europe and we have confidence," said Fletcher. "We know how to cope with the travel and the different styles of play.

"Against Spanish sides, keeping the ball is key. If you give the ball away cheaply, you might not see it for a few minutes and they will punish you."

Rio Ferdinand is set to partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence for the first time this season.

Ferdinand's two appearances since recovering from the knee injury that wrecked his World Cup have both been when Vidic has been rested.

But after watching his side concede nine goals in their past five Premier League games, Sir Alex Ferguson could not have chosen a better time to get his first-choice pairing back together.

With Paul Scholes set to be rested, Michael Carrick could make his first-team return. The midfielder has not started a game for United since the Community Shield and, although he did join up with the England squad for their opening Euro 2012 qualifiers, he was then sent for an injection to try to ease the discomfort from a niggling Achilles problem.