Paris, Sept. 28: Manchester United will be without Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney when they seek to kick-start their Champions League campaign at in-form Group C rivals Valencia on Wednesday.
Welsh veteran Giggs, 36, has been ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury in United’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. “It is a hamstring and I am afraid he will be out for a couple of weeks,” said United coach Sir Alex Ferguson, after seeing his side register their third draw in three away league matches this season.
Rooney was also withdrawn early against Bolton and television cameras later showed him holding an ice pack against his ankle. The England international has struggled for form this season, scoring just one goal for United since the start of the campaign as rumours swirl in the tabloid press about his private life. Ferguson had already been deprived of Antonio Valencia’s services after the Ecuador winger sustained a serious ankle injury in the disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Rangers in United’s opening group game. Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Michael Carrick (Achilles) are also missing. Valencia assumed early control of Group C with a 4-0 thrashing of Turkish outfit Bursaspor and the trip to La Mestalla will be United’s most challenging assignment of the group phase. Unai Emery’s side lost Spanish internationals David Villa and David Silva in the summer, but after four wins from five matches they currently top the Spanish top flight.