Manchester United boost as star returns

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has made his return to training after being out for two months with an injured knee, and the star was photographed smiling and in good spirits at United’s Aon Training Complex on Friday.

United coach Louis Van Gaal has confirmed that Rooney will not return to Premier League action against Tottenham on Sunday, but the star’s presence in the training camp is a big boost for the club as they look to finish the season in strong form and make a charge for a Championship League qualifying spot.

Rooney has not played for the club since United lost to Sunderland in mid-February, and the captain joins a trio of players also looking to prove their match fitness with just seven league fixtures remaining. According to the official team site, “Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson all took part in the session after all three stepped up their recoveries by playing for the Under-21s at Old Trafford on Monday night.”

The Red Devils will take on Spurs on Sunday and will hope to make it three consecutive wins after two successive 1-0 victories over Manchester City and Everton. United are only a point behind rivals City in a race for the final Champions League qualifying spot, and the team is still alive in the FA Cup competition as they prepare for a quarter-final replay against West Ham.