Sir Alex Ferguson has told England's panicking fans to "stop praying" for Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United boss confirmed he will be without the England forward for between two and three weeks with the minor ankle ligament injury he suffered in Munich on Tuesday. In a best-case scenario it would have Rooney back in action for the Manchester derby at Eastlands on April 17, in the worst, the 24-year-old would be facing a race against time to be fit for a Champions League semi-final with either Lyon or Bordeaux four days later, should United make it that far. 
The (nation's) reaction was panic. Well there is no bone damage and no serious ligament damage, so the nation can stop praying. 
Sir Alex Ferguson on Rooney's ankle injury 
 
Either way, Rooney's participation in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ will not be threatened, which will come as an immense relief, not just to Fabio Capello, but the nation's football fans who have come to believe that without their talisman, England might as well not bother going to South Africa this summer. "The (nation's) reaction was panic," smiled Ferguson. "Well there is no bone damage and no serious ligament damage, so the nation can stop praying."
What Ferguson has no intention of doing is dwelling on the setback. It is patently obvious the loss of Rooney causes him a problem ahead of Saturday's top of the table clash with Chelsea. Yet, in making a single striker his preferred formation, in which Berbatov has no role, Ferguson has given himself an instant replacement.
The Bulgarian cannot be expected to match Rooney's work-rate, few in the United squad could, but the Red Devils spent a club record £30.75million on him for a reason - and Ferguson does not expect the former Tottenham striker to let him down in his hour of need.
"I haven't liked leaving Dimitar out - and now he is in," said the United boss, who is aware public perception of Berbatov is not totally favourable. "The split must be 80-20 in his favour. If we sign a big player and he is not scoring 50 goals a season, including 16 overhead kicks, you are always going to get a discerning voice.
"Everyone has their own favourites and supporters have diverse views," the boss added. "I used to get a letter from a supporter saying I was off my head because I wasn't playing Steve Bruce at centre forward, although in fairness it was probably Brucie writing it himself or his granny."
Berbatov has produced a couple of battling performances in Rooney's absence lately, which have guided United to crucial victories at Wolves and Bolton. He is more likely to attack with a sword than a sledgehammer, but Ferguson is confident Chelsea will still feel the same thrust. "The one thing you cannot dismiss is Dimitar's ability and talent," he said. "He is a fantastic player. He can play on his own up front. What you need is to give him good support."

Faith in the squad
Ferguson is adamant there will be no sense of loss at Rooney's absence, or deflected concentration ahead of such a big game. United would prefer to have their main man available, but having lost so many key players so often this season, it is just another inconvenience to overcome. "Rooney is a loss, you want to have all your best players available," said Ferguson. "It hasn't been the case for us this season but we have struggled through.
"We have stumbled but we are a point ahead in the Premier League, in the quarter-final of the Champions League with an away goal advantage and we have won the League Cup," he went on. "I am sure our players are not going to let this upset them. Do you think they are worrying whether Wayne Rooney is going to cost them it by not being there? Not at all."
Ferguson will draft some experience on to his bench in the form of either John O'Shea or Owen Hargreaves, who made his last appearance against Chelsea in September 2008 since when he has undergone major surgery on both knees. A fit Hargreaves would represent a major addition for a United side, who, thanks to the joint failings of Chelsea and Arsenal over the last few weeks, would be quite happy with a draw.
Not that Ferguson intends to play for one. "You cannot go into a game thinking you must not lose," he said. "That is a silly attitude."

(fifa.com)