Manchester United adamant Wayne Rooney missed Blackburn defeat through injury

Manchester United were sticking to their story on Saturday night that Wayne Rooneymissed the Premier League defeat to Blackburn Rovers earlier in the day through injury rather than for disciplinary reasons.

Rooney was not even selected as a substitute for the shock 3-2 defeat, despite Sir Alex Ferguson being forced to name five untested youngsters on the bench.

Instead, the 26-year-old watched the match from an executive box, along with Darron Gibson, who has been mentioned along with Rooney, and currently injured defender Jonny Evans, in relation to a night out that took place on Boxing Day, after the 5-0 win over Wigan.

It has been reported by the Mail on Sunday that Sir Alex Ferguson got wind of the night out, ordered the players to do extra training on Wednesday, which was supposed to be their day off, then told them they would not be involved on Saturday.

Rooney and Gibson are reported to have trained on Saturday morning before heading to Old Trafford to see their team-mates fail to assume top spot in the Premier League, as had been anticipated.

The implications of what has been reported could be major for United, and in particular Rooney’s relationship with Ferguson.

However, whilst Red Devils officials were aware of the rumour circulating on Saturday evening - Ferguson’s 70th birthday - there was no official response.

Instead, the club’s website continued to report the statement Ferguson made about Rooney’s surprise absence to ESPN prior to kick-off.

“Wayne hasn’t trained well this week, he’s missed a few days and we’re hoping that he trains today, tomorrow and, by Wednesday, he should be okay. It’s little strains here and there.”

Those words suggest the initial fall-out would be limited to a single game, with Rooney – and possibly Gibson, who made his first start of the season against Wigan as United faced a chronic injury list – set to be included at Newcastle in midweek, and the FA Cup tie at Manchester City next weekend.

However, it has not been forgotten Rooney requested a transfer last season amid fears about United’s long-term future, only to be eventually talked round and then end the season as a Premier League winner and a goalscorer in the Champions League final.

Gunners slip lets blues in

LONDON – Chelsea and Arsenal experienced contrasting late drama in the Premier League on Monday with an 89th-minute Frank Lampard goal giving Chelsea a 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Bobby Zamora’s last-gasp strike handed Fulham a 2-1 win over Arsenal.

The late goals followed Sunderland’s last-kick winner over league leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

Arsenal had Johan Djourou sent off 12 minutes from time before Zamora’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time sent them crashing to defeat.

In Monday’s other matches all the away teams won with Swansea City earning a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa, Stoke City beating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and Norwich City winning 2-1 at fellow promoted club Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal slipped one place to fifth after Chelsea’s earlier win but seemed set to reclaim a top four spot having taken a 1-0 lead at Craven Cottage with the game moving towards its finale. Laurent Koscielny put Arsenal ahead with a 21st-minute header but Fulham, who lost 5-0 to Manchester United in their last home game, came back strongly in the second half.

They went close to equalising three times before Djourou was sent off for hauling back Zamora in the 78th minute, which helped tip the match even more in their favour. Steve Sidwell, who won the FA Youth Cup at Arsenal but never made the first team, finally headed Fulham level after 85 minutes before Zamora smashed in the winner with a slightly mis-hit left-foot volley with seconds remaining.

Fulham manager Martin Jol, who enjoyed his first Premier League victory over Arsene Wenger’s side in nine attempts, told Sky Sports: “It was amazing. It’s a big compliment to all the players.”

But Wenger claimed Djourou should not have been sent off and that Arsenal should have had a penalty in the first half when Gervinho was tripped in the box.

Meanwhile, Chelsea ended a four-match winless streak when Lampard struck late to secure victory at Wolves.

“It’s a massive win,” Lampard told the BBC. “Everyone knows we are having a tough time but the determination shone through and I think we deserved it.”

Manchester United visit seventh-placed Newcastle United and Everton engage Bolton in today’s only