Rooney was taken off at Bolton after a low key display
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has contradicted club manager Sir Alex Ferguson by claiming he has not had an ankle injury this season.
Ferguson took Rooney off during last month's 2-2 draw at Bolton and left him out of games at Valencia and Sunderland citing an injury to the 24-year-old.
However, Rooney played in England's 0-0 draw against Montenegro on Tuesday.
"No, I've had no ankle problem all season," said Rooney when asked about his problems on the fitness front.
He was then asked as to why Ferguson had said he had an injury, Rooney replied: "I don't know."
Rooney has struggled for form this season and has scored just one penalty in five games for United.
He was left out of the 3-3 draw at Everton on 11 September following allegations about his private life, with Ferguson not wanting to subject Rooney to an expected hostile crowd at his former club.
Ferguson later claimed Rooney was feeling the pressure of the media scrutiny he was under before substituting him at Bolton and leaving him out of the Champions League group win at Valencia and goalless draw at Sunderland.
Ahead of the Black Cats game, Ferguson said: "I have to take the view that this injury has been niggling away for a while and he kept on playing.
"I have to be dead sure that I am doing the right thing because Wayne has not been doing himself justice. I think in a week he will be fine."
Rooney came into this season on the back of a poor World Cup in South Africa with the cause believed to be a lack of fitness because of an ankle injury suffered in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich in March.
But Rooney said: "Towards the end of last season I was injured but during the World Cup, I trained every session and had no problems fitness-wise.
I'll keep doing my training and I'm sure the goals will come
Wayne Rooney
"I think in this league you need to keep playing because, if you are not at full fitness, then it's difficult to break teams down."
He added: "When you are going through the run I am now, you just have to keep working hard.
"I know I've been through this before and once one goal goes in, I am sure I will get more but it's just getting that goal.
"If you don't score, and you have chances, you are disappointed. I want to score but I have got a lot of games left in the season. I am sure this run without scoring will end soon.
"I don't do anything different. I train as hard as I can every time I train and I do extra training every day and I've done that since I was a young boy.
"I'll keep doing my training and I'm sure the goals will come.
"I've missed a few games this season. I've played six or seven games this season including England.
"You just want to keep playing consistently now and keep working hard and I'm sure the goals will come."
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