Rooney aggravates groin injury, but Ferguson remains optimistic

Wayne Rooney suffered a fresh injury scare as Manchester United's title hopes were dashed on Sunday, the striker aggravating a groin injury which will have England coach Fabio Capello edgily awaiting details.

Rooney looked in discomfort when he was replaced after 75 minutes of the 4-0 rout of Stoke at Old Trafford, and United manager Alex Ferguson said it was a recurrence of a groin problem.

Chelsea's 8-0 win over Wigan meant United's hopes of a record 19th league title were over for now.

Capello is due to name his provisional 30-man World Cup squad on Tuesday.

"Wayne's aggravated his groin again," Ferguson told reporters. "I think he'll be okay for England though. I don't think it is serious."

Rooney, 24, finished the season with 34 goals for United, including 26 in the Premier League. He missed several crucial games for United last month after suffering an ankle injury in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.