Updated

Manchester, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Manchester United will once again be without forwards Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie for the team's match at Chelsea on Sunday.

Rooney leads the club with nine goals in 17 league matches, but he will miss his fourth successive contest on Sunday because of a groin problem.

United manager David Moyes said Rooney has returned to training but that he is not fit enough to face the Blues, who attempted to sign the England striker over the summer.

A thigh injury has kept Van Persie on the sidelines for the past nine games, and the Dutchman won't be able to add to his total of seven league goals in 11 matches this weekend.

Van Persie is also close to a return according to Moyes, but it won't come in time to face Chelsea, which sits nine points clear of United in third place.

The Red Devils enter the weekend in seventh place, five points adrift of fourth-place Liverpool.