Rooney's back, half a stone lighter.

Should start on Satdee apparantly :-

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle630613.html

Rooney sheds half a stone on American boot camp

Published 23:00 16/11/10 By David Maddock




Wayne Rooney's American boot camp has had a miracle effect, with the striker arriving back this week half a stone lighter.

And that means the new-look trim Manchester United forward will go straight into the side for the weekend match against Wigan, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson delighted with the results of the intensive training programme.

Rooney was allowed a holiday break in Dubai after breaking down with a troublesome ankle injury, and was then sent to the States for rehabilitation at Nike's Portland headquarters.

While in Oregon the striker was given a specially tailored schedule which covered his comeback, and included dietary planning, after being accompanied by United medical staff.

And it has done the trick with the England forward now half a stone lighter, and in perfect condition to begin his quest to rediscover his very best form that has deserted him so far this season, after finally getting the conditioning programme he missed in the summer because of the World Cup.

Rooney has missed 13 of United's 20 games so far this season and has scored just one solitary goal for the club, which came way back in August. His last start was against Bolton in September, and he has effectively been sidelined since then.

But after recovering from the ankle problem and emerging through the most difficult period of his career, when he seemed destined to leave Old Trafford after criticising the club's lack of ambition, he was sent to Oregon to rediscover his sparkle.

And United boss Ferguson confirmed that seems to have happened with the encouraging weight loss, when he said: "Wayne's had a good week.

"He's trained very hard, two days two sessions, three days three sessions, we've achieved what we wanted to achieve."

That has put him back in shape to return to the United line up, and he will do that at Old Trafford on Saturday when he plays against Wigan, following another week training at the club's Carrington training ground.

And it can't come too soon for Ferguson, who has seen his side struggle badly in the striker's absence, with centre forward Dimitar Berbatov in particular missing his partner's presence.

Berbatov hasn't scored for nine games, and he will welcome the weight of expectation that Rooney's return will lift from his shoulders.

United's owners, the Glazer family, meanwhile, have been challenged to come clean about their plans for the club, after an announcement yesterday that £220million of debt will be cleared by the end of the month.

The American owners have so far refused to say where the money is coming from to repay the loans, which are the notorious Payment In Kind (PIK) debt notes which attract massive 16.25 per cent interest...and with it the fury of United supporters.

The Glazers have merely clarified that the repayment will not be made from club funds, nor through the sale of any stake in the club.

On the surface it will mean United's crippling interest payments - which are as much as £60million a year and contributed to a loss of more than £80million in the last financial period - being reduced dramatically.

But there is no indication of where the money is coming from to repay the debt, and the Manchester United Supporters Trust - which has long campaigned against the Glazer's leveraged debt-laden buy-out of the club - has questioned exactly what is going on.

Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of MUST, said: "Now is the time for the Glazers to finally come clean and tell the truth about what is going on at Manchester United and what their plans are.

"What have they got to hide? No more secrecy. No more spin. Just tell the fans the truth."

It is understood the Glazers have been worried about debt at Old Trafford since the NESV £300million buy out of Liverpool, which seriously undermines the £1billion-plus valuation of Old Trafford by the United owners.

It was feared that the club's own transfer kitty - claimed by the board to currently stand at £150million - would be used to pay down the PIK, but a statement issued yesterday denied that, when it said: "The Board notes recent press speculation. The Board can confirm that there has been no dividend of Club cash."

That means the Glazers have either used their own capital, or borrowed from other private sources to pay down the debt, which is reduced but not cleared, and still stands at around the £500million mark, thanks to another controversial bonds scheme.

United have paid more than £260million in debt repayments in the past four financial years, and speculation is mounting that the repayment of the PIK debt will act a precursor to a full sale of the club, though the Glazers refused to comment on that suggestion last night.

Happy days. Still a top @#%&! though.

'A miracle occurred this week, as a man who exercised lost some weight'.

Why didn't Jesus think of this one. Would have been easier than water to wine.

Originally Posted by Coracao

'A miracle occurred this week, as a man who exercised lost some weight'.

Why didn't Jesus think of this one. Would have been easier than water to wine.

Sarcy £#%&!er.

Originally Posted by antonin jablonsky

Saucy £#%&!er.

Fixed

Originally Posted by antonin jablonsky

Sarcy £#%&!er.

Was taking the piss out of the article, not yourself.

Originally Posted by Gorilla Monsoon

Fixed

Mmmmmmmmm.:bi:

Originally Posted by Coracao

Was taking the piss out of the article, not yourself.

I'm guilty by association though.

Might help him to actually run and maybe avoid going over on that ankle.

Unless he's just lost half of the stone he put on in Dubai the fortnight before

If it's really been a success, send Anderson, Gibson and O'Shea for a month ffs. (and me )

Originally Posted by dunk

Unless he's just lost half of the stone he put on in Dubai the fortnight before

Good shout actually dunk.

I fail to see how shifting a bit of Terry is likely to help his first touch however.

could have an adverse effect, look what happened to Phil Taylor when he lost a load of weight.

Sell the @#%&!

Originally Posted by dodger

Sell the @#%&!

To siddy?

So now he only weighs 17.5 stone. Great.

“The Big Man is back”

Let’s hope £250,000 a week persuades him to stop playing like a @#%&!.

Originally Posted by antonin jablonsky

To siddy?

Whoever

Originally Posted by dodger

Whoever

Good idea.

£#%&!ing scouse bastard. I don't think its too much to expect a hat trick per game from him from now on.

Originally Posted by dunk

Might help him to actually run and maybe avoid going over on that ankle.

Unless he's just lost half of the stone he put on in Dubai the fortnight before

If it's really been a success, send Anderson, Gibson and O'Shea for a month ffs. (and me )

That's not a bad idea

Is there just me who secretly hopes he arrives on the Old Trafford pitch to a deafening chorus of boo's?