UNITED TEAM NEWS

The Times says:

Wayne Rooney faces a race to be fit for the match against Charlton tomorrow. The forward was expected to be fit after pulling out of the England squad for the midweek friendly defeat by Spain with a back problem.

Rooney is suspended for United's FA Cup fifth-round tie at home to Reading a week tomorrow, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Ferguson has toyed with the idea of giving the forward time off before Lille on February 20, but the final decision is likely to rest with Rooney.

Tomasz Kuszczak will deputise against Charlton and Reading after Edwin van der Sar revealed that he is only ready to resume light training after breaking his nose.

“A couple of weeks and I'll be fit. I don't know when I will be back in the team. I'm going to see how it goes when I do my first physical training session — I want to make sure I'm 100 per cent.”