Van Gaal: Rooney 'not even close' to Manchester United return

The England captain is currently sidelined with a knee injury and his manager is refusing to put a date on when he might be able to play for the first-team again

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted he is unsure when Wayne Rooney will play again and says he is "not even close" to a return to action.

Rooney, 30, has been sidelined since mid-February with a knee injury, which was expected to keep him out for up to two months.

But the forward is still a long way from making a comeback, casting some doubt over whether he can lead England at Euro 2016 in June and July.

"Wayne still has weeks to go. He is not even close. I cannot say how many weeks, as you never know," Van Gaal told reporters.