Manchester United sack Rooney doctor

LONDON, May 24: Manchester United club doctor Mike Stone, who was overseeing England striker Wayne Rooney's recovery from a broken foot, has been sacked by the Premier League club, British media reported today.

Stone, who had been with United for 10 years, was put in charge of Rooney's rehabilitation after the forward broke the fourth metatarsal on his right foot on April 29 at Chelsea.

''We can confirm that Mike Stone has left the club,'' a United spokesman was quoted as saying by The Sun newspaper.

The paper added that the doctor wrote to his former colleagues saying: ''I'm leaving with immediate effect, it's been a pleasure working with you all.'' Rooney, who spent his first few months at United in 2004 under the care of Stone following a metatarsal injury suffered at Euro 2004, will have a scan on his latest injury on Thursday.

The Independent newspaper said responsibility for getting Rooney fit for the World Cup would now pass to United's assistant doctor, Tony Gill.

United manager Alex Ferguson and director Bobby Charlton have already warned that Rooney will not be allowed to play at the World Cup if he is not fully fit.

The Independent quoted a United spokesman saying: ''There was a difference of opinion on a non-football and non-clinical issue, as a result of which Dr Stone felt it was in the best interests of himself and the club for him to leave''.

The paper said United had insisted that Stone had left the club because of a ''difference over a non-clinical issue and had nothing whatsoever to do with any medical treatment to any Manchester United player''.

REUTERS