Nasty Gash To Keep Wayne Rooney Out For A Month

Wayne Rooney could be out for a month after having a nasty gash opened up on his thigh on Saturday versus Fulham. The Englishman was stretchered off of the field and taken to the hospital for treatment.

"Wayne Rooney's been whisked off to hospital immediately and it looks a bad one," Sir Alex Ferguson said after the match. "I think he could be out for four weeks with a bad gash."

The injury occurred when Rooney went to ground to challenge Hugo Rodallega. Rooney ended up underneath Rodallega and when the Fulham player came back to ground after leaving his feet to shoot, he came down on Rooney's thigh.

Rodallega's studs opened up Rooney's leg up and left him with a huge gash. Blood was coming out of what was a visibly deep wound and after trying to limp away, he was wisely told to go to ground and get treated before leaving on a stretcher for the hospital.

With Rooney out, Manchester United will turn to Shinji Kagawa more often and in his more natural central attacking midfield position, as opposed to benching one of Rooney, Kagawa or Robin van Persie or playing one out of position. Considering the fine form that Kagawa has been in early this season, the Red Devils should be just fine.