Rooney misses Everton game

Striker Wayne Rooney was conspicuous by his absence as his current Manchester United side prepared to take on former club Everton at Goodison Park.

The England international, who has had to cope with revelations about his private life all week, was not on the team coach when it arrived at the ground an hour and 15 minutes before kick-off and his name did not appear on the team sheet.

Rooney was reportedly at the team's hotel in Manchester on Friday night and there was a suggestion he may have travelled independently but Sir Alex Ferguson's selection dispelled that theory.

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