Ferguson tells Rooney to curb his enthusiasm

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Wayne Rooney to curb his enthusiasm after telling the striker he was wrong to play for England against Egypt.

Ferguson was unimpressed his leading scorer played 86 minutes at Wembley on Wednesday just three days after complaining of a sore knee after helping United win the League Cup on the same, heavy pitch.

Rooney, who has scored 23 Premier League goals this season, is now a doubt for Saturday’s game at struggling Wolves, where victory will send United two points clear at the top of the table.

Ferguson made it clear he did not blame England coach Fabio Capello for playing Rooney in the pre-World Cup warm-up game in midweek.

Instead, the long-serving Scot has directed his frustration towards Rooney for putting his knee at risk as United’s season reaches crunch time.

As well as the Premier League title, Ferguson’s team is chasing Champions League glory and entertain AC Milan at Old Trafford next Wednesday boasting a 3-2 lead from the first leg of the last 16 tie.

“I don’t blame Fabio at all. I was disappointed more in Wayne, I can’t believe it,” said Ferguson, who has lost Michael Owen to a hamstring injury for the rest of the season.

“He told us on Sunday he was feeling his knee. Then all of a sudden people put an arm around his shoulder with England and he wants to play.

“I don’t think he should have played. His own enthusiasm has caused it. He can’t say no, that’s his problem.

“Of course he should have signalled to the bench he wanted to come off.”

Ferguson believes Rooney’s “restless energy” and enthusiasm to play in every game will start to diminish as he gets older.

“It’s hard to quell players with that kind of enthusiasm because it’s a restless energy,” added Ferguson.

“His problem is he can’t sit down, he can’t sit still. He’s always on the move, even in hotels. I watch him and he’s moving from one table to another.

“When we’re away in Europe he’s walking about. He’s always on the go all the time. He’s got that restless energy that you don’t want to take away from him.

“But age does some good things to you. Eventually you say to yourself ‘I can’t be bothered running about all the time’ and you have to take a rest sometime.”

Meanwhile, Michael Owen has promised United fans he will be back for the start of next season after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

Owen will undergo an operation on Monday to repair the damage that has cut-short his first season at Old Trafford since joining on a free transfer from Newcastle last July.

“Unfortunately, the specialist says I will miss the end of the season,” said Owen, who scored in the 2-1 League Cup final win over Aston Villa before limping off injured.

“I have loved every minute of my first campaign with United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments. I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition.”