EINDHOVEN (Netherlands) • Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney will miss the club's Champions League group match opener at PSV Eindhoven today with new summer signing Memphis Depay looking to shine against his former club.
Rooney picked up a hamstring injury while training ahead of Saturday's 3-1 win over Liverpool and will not be rushed back by manager Louis van Gaal.
The clash with PSV will see Dutch winger Depay return to the club he left in the summer for £25 million (S$54 million).
Depay, though, has struggled since his arrival at United, with French teenager Anthony Martial's scoring debut against Liverpool distracting from the 21-year-old's struggles.
Depay should get a warm reception in the Philips Stadion, having helped PSV to a first title win in seven years last season. The forward was the Dutch league's top scorer with 22 goals.
Van Gaal, however, could be in for a rough time from the home fans, having played for and coached rivals Ajax.
Depay's place could be under threat following the impressive performance of Ashley Young off the bench on Saturday and Morgan Schneiderlin could come in for either Michael Carrick or Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Martial, 19, could make his first start for United with Rooney ruled out.
English forward James Wilson and Belgian midfielder Andreas Pereira, who was also signed from PSV, have also both been added to the squad for the trip to the Netherlands.
Pereira suffered an injury while away with Brazil's Under-23 side but is fit for selection again.
PSV coach Phillip Cocu's side should not be underestimated as they are top seeds in the group and have an unbeaten start to the season.
They warmed up for the clash with Luuk de Jong scoring a first-half hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Cambuur in the Dutch league at the weekend.
The sides clashed at the same stage of the 2000-2001 competition, with honours shared - United losing 3-1 on the road, turning the tables with the same scoreline at Old Trafford.
PSV gained automatic qualification as Dutch champions, while United advanced through the play-off route following a 7-1 result against Club Brugge.
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