Manchester: Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Ajax, on Thursday, after picking up a throat infection.

Rooney developed the problem following last week’s first leg in Amsterdam and, although he reported for training on Wednesday, he was quickly sent home in the hope that he will recover in time for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Norwich.

‘‘Wayne is out tomorrow,’’ said Ferguson.

‘‘He has a really bad throat. ‘There were traces of it in Amsterdam and we gave him some medication but it got worse.

As United are 2-0 up from the away leg and appear certain to book a last-16 encounter with either Lokomotiv Moscow or Athletic Bilbao, Rooney might not have played anyway given the number of players Ferguson feels must be involved after their recent lack of game time.