Park misses Euro clash

Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by PA

Park Ji-sung has been ruled out of Manchester United's Champions League clash with Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

The South Korean has contracted a virus and missed training, so Sir Alex Ferguson had little choice but to rule him out.

Patrice Evra has recovered from a similar problem, while Michael Owen should be available despite also missing training with a minor groin strain.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has tipped Wayne Rooney to gatecrash the elite trio currently monopolising world football.

Rooney is set to make his 50th European appearance against the German champions Wolfsburg.

His first three Champions League goals came in a dramatic debut-night hat-trick against Fenerbahce at exactly the same point in the competition, heralding his #27million arrival from Everton.

Although there have been moments Rooney has cause to regret, not least his red card for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen in Villarreal, and there were plenty of occasions when he was upstaged by former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, at no point has the 23-year-old given Ferguson any other belief than he is destined for the top.

The United boss feels Rooney has some work to do before he can be put into the same bracket as Kaka and Ronaldo, who were crowned world player of the year in the last two seasons, and Lionel Messi, who is set to receive the honour this autumn.

But he has no doubts the Merseysider will get there eventually.

"Wayne could easily get to that level," said Ferguson.

"It was a pretty remarkable feat to get that hat-trick and his progress has never disappointed us at any point since.

"When we signed him as a kid, we thought he would become a really top player. Without question he is going in that direction.

"He is blessed with some ingredients only great footballers have.

"He has a great determination and hunger to win every match and every training session. That will never change.

"Sometimes there is criticism about the amounts footballers get paid. But when you see the effort he puts in, he is worth every penny.

"He plays as if he means it. It is a wonderful thing to have."

Jonny Evans was able to verify that assessment of Rooney's competitive spirit. Less sure is the Northern Ireland international about his team-mate's ability to fill a central defensive role.

"Wayne is a nightmare," he said.

"He is always complaining and he always wants to win.

"His form has been great this season. He is playing through the middle now and is probably in his most favourite position.

"I don't think he can play centre-half though. All the lads try different positions. Berbatov did it yesterday (Monday). He was awful."

Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh insists his team "will not hide" at Old Trafford.

The VW backed outfit, located between Hannover and Berlin, stunned German football last season by holding off the challenges of far better known rivals to clinch the Bundesliga.

Their reward is a Champions League debut. And, after opening their campaign by defeating CSKA Moscow, they are now preparing to enter one of the citadels of the game.

Veh admits he cannot be sure how his team will react, but he does not expect any sense of inferiority. And neither does he feel they will be scared.

"Old Trafford is a special ground and Manchester United is a very special club," said Veh.

"They have played over 150 games in this competition and we have only had a couple.

"But we will not hide and I won't be losing any sleep thinking about it.

"It is impossible to say for certain whether the players will be inspired or afraid. But I do know we cannot afford to wait until Manchester United have scored four or five goals before we start to impose our own style on the match."

Veh is not expecting a problem. In fact, he feels a myth has grown up around Old Trafford.

"When people talk about atmospheres, the best ones are in Germany," he added.

"We experience those crowds every week, so in describing the atmosphere at Old Trafford, it is more to do with the legend of United, rather than the stadium itself."

Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martens could be recalled given he has scored at the stadium.

However, more likely the Nigerian will remain on the bench as Wolfsburg prepare to face a side Veh feels is remarkably unaffected by the departures of Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

"They are top of the table and they have won their last seven games," observed Veh.

"It doesn't look like a lot has changed to me. They still have the same quality of player, that is for certain."