Man Utd's Rooney out for two months with broken foot

Wayne Rooney will be out for two months with a hairline fracture in his left foot, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said Monday.

The striker will therefore miss Sunday's derby against Manchester City at Eastlands, England's friendly with Germany on August 22 at Wembley, and the 2008 European Championships qualifiers there against Israel on September 8 and Russia on September 12.

He is also likely to miss the qualifiers away to Estonia on October 13 and Russia on October 17.

"It's a hairline fracture of the foot. Hopefully he will be back in two months," Ferguson said.

"It's a bad blow for him and it's a bad blow for Steve McClaren," the Scot said of the England boss, his former assistant at United.

"I'm disappointed for Steve but England should cope without him."

Rooney sustained the fracture during Sunday's 0-0 draw at home to Reading, the opening game of United's title defence. He left Old Trafford with his left foot in plaster.

Ferguson has ruled out bringing in a new forward to fill in while Rooney recovers.

Ferguson is expected to hand Argentina forward Carlos Tevez his debut for the English Premier League champions in United's match at Portsmouth on Wednesday.

But the veteran boss is short on fit strikers, with both France forward Louis Saha and Norway attacker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only just returned to training after long-term problems -- and Tevez lacking match fitness.

"Carlos Tevez is available now and Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are training," Ferguson said after the Reading game.

"I was considering using Carlos at Portsmouth anyway but, obviously, he will come into our thoughts even more now.

"With Wayne as well, we have four strikers so I am not looking at a situation where I have to add to that number."

The transfer window closes at the end of the month.

United sold strikers Alan Smith to Newcastle United and Giuseppe Rossi to Villarreal in the pre-season.

They even finished the Reading match with Portugal winger Ronaldo and Republic of Ireland defender-cum-midfielder John O'Shea up front.

Rooney, 21, is no stranger to foot injuries.

He almost missed last year's World Cup with a broken metatarsal in his right foot and his involvement in Euro 2004 was ended after a metatarsal injury to his left foot.

Van der Vaart pleads with Hamburg for Valencia move

Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart pleaded with his German club Hamburg on Monday to let him leave for a 'dream' move to Valencia.

Hamburg denied earlier in the day that they have received an offer for their captain but van der Vaart has now said that his mind is set on a move to the Spaniards.

"I am determined to leave and Valencia would be a dream for me," the 24-year-old said in an interview due to be published in the Tuesday edition of Hamburger Abendblatt.

"If I have to stay at Hamburg, that would be very painful for me," he added.

Hamburg later admitted to have received an offer for the former Ajax star but said they are determined to keep hold of the player they signed in 2005.

"In this particular case money is of no importance," said sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

Van der Vaart, who has a Spanish mother, had previously claimed that he could not refuse an offer from Real Madrid, also reportedly chasing him, but no firm bid has been forthcoming from them and the Spanish champions recently splashed out 27 million euros on another Dutch central midfielder, Ajax's Wesley Sneijder.

According to Hamburger Morgenpost on Monday, Valencia are prepared to pay 14 million euros for van der Vaart.

Van der Vaart is under contract with Hamburg until 2010, but has refused to start negotiations with club bosses about an extension.

He has scored six goals in 40 appearances for the Netherlands despite frequent injuries, has scored 17 goals in 46 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg, who finished third in 2005-06 and were seventh last season.

Dutch duo set for Real Madrid unveiling

Dutch midfielders Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder will be unveiled by Spanish champions Real Madrid later Monday.

Real said in a statement on their webiste that the pair will be presented before the Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium at 1630GMT.

Drenthe, 20, successfully passed his medical last week and 23-year-old Sneijder underwent his on Monday morning.

Sneijder's transfer from Ajax was concluded overnight Monday, after agreement was reached on a five-year deal worth 27 million euros (36.8 million dollars). Drenthe signed a five-year deal worth 14 million euros.

Sneijder's transfer is one of the Spanish league's biggest this season along with Brazilian defender Pepe, for whom Real Madrid paid 30 million euros.

"I'm very happy. It's a dream come true for me to play at Real Madrid," Sneijder told the daily As. "I know I still have a lot to learn and I hope to achieve that alongside Real's great players."

Both Drenthe and Sneijder are set to make their debut against Sevilla Sunday for the return leg of the Spanish SuperCup. Real lost the first leg 1-0.