Manchester United boss David Moyes admits he had take the gamble in playing Wayne Rooney at Bayern Munich last night. The striker barely trained as the Reds attempted to discover if he had fractured the toe or chipped a bone.
And although he had a pain-killing injection to help him through the game, Rooney never looked himself on the night.
As early as the eighth minute he squandered a gilt-edged chance when he dithered in the box before his effort was blocked by Bayern defender Dante.
Then came that second chance three minutes after Bayern's equaliser.
"I was concerned that Wayne had not trained all week and he had taken an injection. At times it looked like it was a struggle striking the ball," said Moyes when he was asked whether that was the real Rooney on view and whether the injury had played on his mind.
"But he is so vital a player to us. He is so important especially with Robin van Persie out just now. He had a couple of opportunities but couldn't quite take them."
