England striker Wayne Rooney plays at Wembley Stadium in London on August 14, 2013. Rooney is set to return as Manchester United face Swansea in David Moyes' first Premier League match in charge of the champions. (AFP/File)
LONDON (AFP) – Wayne Rooney is set to return as Manchester United face Swansea in David Moyes' first Premier League match in charge of the champions on Saturday.
Rooney missed United's entire pre-season programme with hamstring and shoulder problems and his future at Old Trafford appeared uncertain after he reportedly told Moyes he wanted to join Chelsea.
United have turned down two Chelsea offers for Rooney and boss Moyes is adamant the England striker is not for sale, although Jose Mourinho has made it clear he still hopes to sign the 27-year-old before the transfer window closes.
Rooney finally got the chance to prove his fitness by playing 66 minutes of England's 3-2 friendly win over Scotland on Wednesday and he travelled with the United squad when they flew from Manchester to Swansea on Friday afternoon.
However, with Danny Welbeck in goalscoring form for England in midweek and Robin van Persie netting twice in Sunday's Community Shield, Moyes has no need to rush Rooney back into the team.
And that is likely to mean Rooney is among the substitutes, having not started in the Premier League since the draw at Arsenal on April 28.
"It's a very tough away fixture," Moyes told MUTV.
"Michael Laudrup has done a really good job there and strengthened the team a lot this summer.
"I would expect Swansea to have another season as good as last year and they've already had a couple of European games as well which gives them the feeling they are a little more match-ready.
"But we feel we're getting ready as well.
"The only real injury we've had is to Rafael, who looks like he will be out for four to six weeks with a hamstring."
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