Manchester United squad members vs Chelsea revealed

Wayne Rooney was not with his Manchester United teammates as they boarded their train down to London.


United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon but club captain Rooney was not with players and staff at Stockport Station on Saturday afternoon, according to photographers.

Rooney, who resides in Prestbury, could have linked up with teammates at Macclesfield station, although United trained at Carrington on Saturday morning before leaving for the station.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was also not among the travelling party, having been overlooked for Thursday's Europa League victory over Fenerbahce.

Other absentees included Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Memphis, photographers said.

Rooney returned to the United starting line-up for the first time in a month in Thursday's Europa League victory over Fenerbahce.

The likelihood is first-choice striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to spearhead the attack at Chelsea, irrespective of Rooney's availability.

Twenty checked into The Lowry ahead of the Manchester derby earlier this month, as Mourinho omitted Ashley Young and Johnstone again from the matchday squad. A 21-man squad headed south for the Watford fixture earlier this month.

Van Gaal used to tell players if they were starting two days in advance but Mourinho is believed to wait longer so the players are kept on their toes.

Confirmed United squad members:
De Gea
Romero
Johnstone
Darmian
Valencia
Smalling
Bailly
Blind
Rojo
Shaw
Herrera
Carrick
Schneiderlin
Fellaini
Pogba
Lingard
Mata
Young
Rashford
Ibrahimovic
Martial