Wayne Rooney to play 60 minutes for Man United's U21s vs. Middlesbrough
Wayne Rooney's fitness will be judged after an hour of him playing for Manchester United under-21s against Middlesbrough U21s at Old Trafford on Monday night, manager Louis van Gaal said.
Rooney will be making his first appearance since completing 90 minutes against Sunderland on Feb. 3 then being ruled out with a knee problem.
The United and England captain has missed the past 12 games for his club, during which time they have been knocked out of the Europa League.
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England manager Roy Hodgson will also be keen to see Rooney back on the field with Euro 2016 looming this summer.
United still have six league games left to play and also at least one more FA Cup tie.
Speaking at his news conference following the 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Van Gaal said: "We have to wait and see if that is the case [that Rooney will soon return for the first team].
"He shall play on Monday. Sixty minutes and we can see how he is doing because he has been, for more than two months, out of the game. That is not nothing.
"Of course, he is a great striker but, still, he has to show that, and if he is already in a certain shape. It's always like that, for every player."
Arindam is ESPN FC's Manchester United correspondent. Follow him @ARejSport
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