WAYNE Rooney has confirmed that Derby County man Jason Knight has no chance of being fit in time for next month’s World Cup qualifiers even though he is making quick progress in his recovery from injury.
Knight has been sidelined since he suffered an ankle injury during a training-ground clash with manager Rooney in pre-season, and Stephen Kenny had not expected the Dubliner to be ready in time for any of the games in the World Cup triple-header.
And Rooney has admitted that Knight is still weeks away from a return.
“We are looking after the international break to see where he is at. He has missed almost a full pre-season.
“He is a fit guy anyway, but he will still need that football training to get back up to speed,” Rooney said.
“He is still in the gym, gradually putting a bit more weight on it (ankle). We will have a better idea towards the end of this week where he is at and then we can put a timescale on it from there.
“His rehab is going well, he is improving every day. His attitude to the training he has been doing has been superb. The physios are delighted with him.”
Meanwhile, Mark Travers faces a battle for his spot in the Bournemouth starting XI.
The summer exit of Asmir Begovic opened the door for Travers to establish himself and he started in all five games for the Championship side this season.
But the recent capture of Norwegian international Orjan Nyland has increased the competition and manager Scott Parker is likely to omit Travers and use Nyland in tonight’s League Cup tie against Norwich City.
“Travers has done very, very well and I’ve seen him improve,” says Parker. “Certainly game by game, I’ve seen big improvements, so that’s very, very pleasing. I think healthy competition in that position is key. Hopefully, Nyland will give us that.”
Norwich are likely to give young defender Andrew Omobamidele a run-out against the Cherries after he recovered from tonsillitis.
Meanwhile, Glenn Whelan is poised to link up with Joey Barton once again at League Two side Bristol Rovers. The former Manchester City team-mates worked together at Fleetwood Town, and Barton, now in charge of Rovers, is eager to tie up a deal with Whelan (37).