Rooney could make Bayern cruncher

Manchester United could name injured striker Wayne Rooney in their squad for the crunch Champions League tie with Bayern Munich in midweek, according a reports Monday.

Rooney was expected to be out of action for two to three weeks after suffering ankle ligament damage in the first leg of their quarter-final against Bayern in Munich last week.

However reports in the Daily Telegraph and Guardian newspapers Monday claimed United have been so impressed by Rooney’s progress over the weekend that they are considering naming him in the squad for Wednesday’s make-or-break encounter.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said he would not risk using Rooney if he was no 100 percent fit, and reports late Sunday said the club’s medical staff had given the striker only a 40 percent chance of playing.

However United’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend — a game in which Rooney was sorely missed — may have swayed the Scot.

Rooney has been wearing a protective book on his ankle since last week, but the reports said he has responded better than expected to treatment.

United welcome Bayern to Old Trafford hoping to overturn a 2-1 first leg defeat.