Wayne Rooney remained in hospital overnight as medical staff assessed the extent of the injury he sustained when Hugo Rodallega landed on him in stoppage time during Manchester United's win over Fulham.

The England striker was carried off on a stretcher at Old Trafford after the accidental clash with Rodallega in the home side's 3-2 success and is expected to be out of action for four weeks. Rooney was charging down a shot by the Fulham substitute, whose boot connected with his leg.

"It was a very bad one. It looks like he will be out for four weeks"
Sir Alex Ferguson

The 26-year-old sustained a severe gash on his right thigh, and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a very bad one. He has gone to hospital. It looks like he will be out for four weeks."

If Ferguson's assessment proves correct Rooney would be out of United's next two League matches, against Southampton and Wigan and the start of United's UEFA Champions League campaign.

The former Everton striker would be sidelined for England's 2016 FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header with Moldova and Ukraine and also be a major doubt for the Red Devils' trip to Liverpool on September 23rd.

"You have to be wary of infection and that kind of thing so he has gone to the best place and hopefully he will be okay," added Ferguson. "Rodallega followed through and caught him – but it was an accident of course."