Man Utd suffer Wayne Rooney blow, Alex Ferguson admits

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Wayne Rooney could be out for longer than the three weeks initially expected.The 25-year-old striker is currently on holiday as he recovers from the ankle injury he picked up in training.Rooney recently signed a new five-year deal to stay at Old Trafford days after he said he wanted to leave the club.Asked if three weeks was still the prognosis for his return, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."Ferguson added: "There is no recovery, it is just rest."Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest - we're quite happy with that."Rooney, who has been recuperating while on holiday in Dubai with his wife Coleen, has missed United's last three matches, his last appearance being as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw with West Brom on 16 October.The England striker has struggled for form this season and has scored only one Premier League goal, a penalty in the 3-0 win over West Ham in August.Rooney had been targeting a return to action for the derby clash with Manchester City at Eastlands on 10 November.That fixture would have pitted Rooney against a side that was widely tipped to bid for his signature after the former Everton player stated his desire to leave.However Rooney completed a remarkable U-turn two days later by committing himself to staying with the Red Devils, signing an improved contract that could keep him at Old Trafford for the next five years.