United Duo Ruled Out of England Game

Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverley have been ruled out of England's friendly against Netherlands on Wednesday by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson revealed Rooney will not be available for the match due to a throat infection while also confirming midfielder Cleverley will be absent.

"They'll be out,'' he told Sky Sports News after his side's Premier League win at Norwich on Sunday.

"Wayne has still not recovered from his throat infection, so hopefully we'll get him ready for next Sunday, when we have a big game at White Hart Lane.''

Both players had been rated doubtful for this weekend's match, Rooney suffering from illness and Cleverley reportedly struggling with a recurrence of his recent ankle injury.

Neither featured in United's match-day squad at Carrow Road, where Ryan Giggs' added-time goal earned the Red Devils a 2-1 win.

The news is a blow for caretaker England boss Stuart Pearce, who on Saturday lost Rooney's probable strike partner Darren Bent when he injured his ankle playing for Aston Villa at Wigan.

Nani: I am Not at My Best Now

Manchester United winger Nani has admitted he still has plenty of work to do before he reaches his top form again.

Nani, 25, returned from almost a month on the sidelines with a foot injury against Ajax last week, and completed the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 return encounter with the Dutch giants at Old Trafford on Thursday.

However, only sporadically did he sparkle, clipping the bar with one second-half effort as United narrowly avoided an embarrassing Europa League exit.

With Antonio Valencia sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained in Amsterdam and Ashley Young also battling back to fitness after a knee injury, United could do with Nani at his best ahead of successive away games at Norwich and Tottenham.

Yet the Portugal international feels he is still some way short of requirements and that only hard work is the answer.

''It has been difficult to get the consistency,'' he said. ''I am getting there but I need more minutes.

''I will work hard to come back because we need every player. Just now I am not at my best but I will try to recover my form as quickly as possible.''

Cleverley Injury Scare

Tom Cleverley is a doubt for both Manchester United and England after he was sent for a scan on an injury he picked up in Thursday's game against Ajax.

The midfielder, who was returning to action after four months out with a foot injury, came off after 60 minutes of the Europa League game, being replaced by Paul Scholes in a 2-1 defeat that nevertheless saw United progress to the next round.

Cleverley was hoping to pick up his first England cap next week, after being named in Stuart Pearce's squad for England's friendly against Netherlands at Wembley. While Ferguson does not believe the problem is serious, the desire to prevent another long-term lay-off may force the 22-year-old to miss United's Premier League game against Norwich this weekend - and the international friendly at Wembley in midweek.

"He got a knock," Ferguson said. "We sent him for a scan but we don't think it's serious."

Cleverley knows Pearce from his time in the England Under-21s, and had been hoping to make an impression on the international stage ahead of the forthcoming European Championship.

"I don't really listen to what people are saying. I just go out and play my football," Cleverley said recently. "If I can find some good form from now until the end of the season, I would be more than happy to be involved in the European Championship.

"I am not sure whether it is a good time though. I know Stuart Pearce quite well from my time with the Under-21s. He is a good manager. Hopefully I will be involved."

Giggs Marks Milestone with Late Winner

Ryan Giggs marked his 900th appearance for Manchester United with a stoppage-time winner as valiant Norwich were beaten 2-1 at Carrow Road.

Paul Scholes had given the visitors an early lead with a close-range header.

The Canaries rallied and forced David de Gea into a string of fine saves before the United number one was finally beaten with seven minutes left when Grant Holt fired home from 12 yards.

United, though, were not to be denied as they poured forwards in the closing stages and were eventually rewarded when Giggs stabbed home from close range before celebrating wildly in front of the travelling fans.

Sir Alex Ferguson had recalled his regulars following their midweek defeat by Ajax in the Europa League, looking to close back up on leaders Manchester City, although England striker Wayne Rooney missed out because of a virus.

The Canaries have consolidated themselves well on a first return to the top flight in the six seasons since last facing the Red Devils here, securing back-to-back promotions up from npower League One under Paul Lambert.

Only three teams have won at Carrow Road in the Premier League this season, and it was another positive start by the hosts as Simeon Jackson looked to get in between centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans.

United, though, soon settled and retained possession well, and were in front on seven minutes.

Nani swung the ball over from the right, and it bounced through the six-yard box to the far post, where Scholes nodded it past John Ruddy.

Bradley Johnson was shown a yellow card by referee Andre Marriner for a crunching tackle on the Portuguese winger, which on another day could well have been red.

On 15 minutes, it was almost 2-0 when another flowing United counter opened up the Norwich defence before Danny Welbeck's scuffed shot was touched wide at full stretch by Ruddy.

Norwich finally created a meaningful chance on 28 minutes, Kyle Naughton chipped a throughball into the right side of the United penalty box. Anthony Pilkington took it in his stride with a sublime first touch before knocking his shot goalwards, with De Gea making a fine reaction save at the near post.

Javier Hernandez should have done better when played clear into the Norwich penalty area, but failed to trouble Ruddy with a tame effort straight at the keeper.

At the other end, De Gea was producing a top-drawer display as he plucked a glancing header from Holt out of the air after the Norwich captain turned Pilkington's right-wing cross goalwards.

United and Juve Want Gotze

Manchester United and Juventus have expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze.

Germany midfielder Gotze, 19, has become one of European football's most talked about prospects since he broke into the German side's first team in 2009, and is continually being linked with interest from a number of high profile clubs.

Gotze's agent, Dirk Hebel, has claimed that he has spoken to some prospective bidders, with United and Juve among the interested parties.

"I think in Europe all the top clubs are interested in Mario," Hebel told Calcio Mercato. "I can confirm that I have had contact with Juventus and Manchester United, but not only them.

"I don't know if he'll go away after this season - you should ask Borussia - but I think that they will not let him leave for less than €40 million. He still is very happy at Dortmund, though now he is injured."

Eriksen Delighted with Fergie Praise

Christian Eriksen has said he is honoured to receive praise from Sir Alex Ferguson but reiterated that he is happy to continue his development at Ajax.

Denmark international Eriksen, 20, has long been linked with a move to England or Spain with Old Trafford regularly touted as a potential destination, and he had the chance to face Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

United came away from the match with a 2-0 victory, but Eriksen was still able to make a positive impression on Ferguson.

"He's a good player - a typical Ajax player who is good on the ball - but we already knew that," he told TV3+ after the game. "We have many young players at the club, but we are always looking for talent. It's impossible to predict."

Eriksen said he was flattered to receive a compliment from Ferguson, even if he plans to remain at the Amsterdam ArenA for the time being.

"It is great to hear and an honour to hear him saying positive things about me, especially as it's not just come from any old manager," he told Ekstra Bladet after the match. "It's something I have to get used to. I would say that he is one of the game's greatest managers."

Asked whether he would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, he said: "I want to play for a big club at some point, of course, but right now I am not dreaming of anything so big. My dream is for now only about Ajax."

Man Utd down Dutch Champs

Ashley Young's first Manchester United goal since September set the Red Devils on their way to a comfortable win over over Ajax in Amsterdam tonight.

The last time Young found the net was a last-gasp face-saver against Basel at Old Trafford, in a match which Sir Alex Ferguson still looks back on as the draw that cost his team their place in the Champions League.

And, after a poor first-half, the visitors roused themselves after the break and Young's 58th-minute winner came at the end of their most threatening spell, the England man tucking home after Nani's cross had been deflected into his path.

Javier Hernandez added a second six minutes from time to secure a result that will allow Ferguson to take a pragmatic approach to next week's second leg, which, unlike tonight, will be followed four days later by a crucial Premier League game, against high flying Norwich at Carrow Road.

As Tom Cleverley was handed his European debut after playing just twice since the beginning of September and not at all for over three months, Nani and Phil Jones back after four match absences and Ashley Young only just returned from a pre-Christmas injury, it was perhaps no surprise United were so far off the pace.

Too many first touches and passes went astray.