No miracles to be worked with Rooney, say United

MANCHESTER, England, Sep 22 (Reuters) Manchester United cannot be expected to work miracles with Wayne Rooney after his long spell on the sidelines, assistant manager Carlos Queiroz said today.

The 20-year-old England striker has been well short of his best form so far this season following his return from a broken metatarsal he sustained at the end of April.

His comeback was held up by a three-match ban carried over from a pre-season red card and, after being substituted in his last two games, Rooney has completed just one full 90 minutes for United this season.

''It is important to remind people that in six months he has played five or six games, and not complete ones,'' Queiroz told reporters.

''So it is natural to expect this progression. In terms of preparation we cannot produce miracles.

''He needs to play to get back to get his maximum form and that is what will happen in the next few weeks, for sure.'' Rooney, who played only a limited role for England at the World Cup, has looked frustrated by his lack of sharpness.

Queiroz believes that is understandable for a player who scored 19 times last season and was expected to forge a prolific partnership with French strike partner Louis Saha after the departure of Dutchman Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

''Wayne is a player with a lot of ambition and a great desire,'' the Portuguese coach said.

''He has a special winning mentality that every time he goes out, there is only one thing in his mind -- that is to perform and win the game.

''If that doesn't happen he feels it like any other player, or sometimes he feels it even more.'' Rooney will get another chance to add to the two goals he scored on the opening day of the season when United go to Reading on Saturday.

LEADERSHIP CHANCE United lost their unbeaten record in last Sunday's defeat by Arsenal, while Reading have won both their home games to date and are sixth in their first season in the English top-flight.

Queiroz said: ''We need to rebound from that result and get ready to play according to our standards against Reading.

''They have started the season in a fantastic way. I am not surprised if you check what they did last season when they got promotion.

''We expect a difficult game but I am sure it will be the first big test for Reading at home and if we get back to our normality I'm sure we will come back home with three points.'' Edwin van der Sar is set to return in goal for United after missing the Arsenal game through illness.

Argentina international Gabriel Heinze is also included in the United squad for the first time this season following his recovery from a knee injury.

However, Welsh forward Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and French defender Mikael Silvestre (ankle) are both ruled out.

REUTERS PM BD1901