Wayne Rooney refuses to accept he won't feature for Manchester United tonight against Bayern Munich.

The Daily Mail says Rooney is pleading with Sir Alex Ferguson to pick him as a substitute for Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.

The Manchester United striker has made rapid progress since suffering an ankle injury last week and is desperate to play some part in the second leg of the quarter-final tie, which United trail 2-1.

Ferguson does not expect Rooney, 24, to return just yet but conceded his striker will drive him crazy with requests to be included against Bayern.

Ferguson said: "We've made some good progress with the lad but I'm not prepared to take the risk if he's not 100 per cent fit. We're looking at the Manchester City game (on April 17) or maybe Blackburn (Sunday) as a sub, possibly.

"I don't think he'll be on the bench for this one - but he may try and persuade me!"