Virus keeps Rooney out of opener

LONDON // Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is likely to miss the start of the Premier League season because of a virus he picked up during his club's trip to Nigeria, manager Alex Ferguson said yesterday. "I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with this virus he has had... It's a bad virus, he has not been training," Ferguson said.

Rooney has not trained since returning from Nigeria, where the Premier League champions United played the FA Cup winners Portsmouth in a friendly in Abuja on July 27. The 22-year-old did not play in that match and has missed his club's two subsequent pre-season fixtures against Espanyol and Peterborough. Michael Carrick has suffered the same virus but United hope the midfielder will be able to play some part when they meet Portsmouth again in the Community Shield at the Wembley.

Ferguson also reiterated that the Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo would not be leaving Old Trafford, despite strong interest from the Spanish champions Real Madrid. The United manager said: "The matter is closed now - he is a Manchester United player, it is finished. He is going to be a player here next season, believe me." Earlier yesterday, the Real president Ramon Calderon hinted at the same conclusion to the long-running saga.

He said the Primera Liga club's new Dutch signing Rafael van der Vaart was "the first and almost certainly the last signing we will make this season". "We believe that this squad is full of quality, of plenty of talent. It's a team which is a great family, very close. "We said that the new arrivals would be few but of great quality. That seemed logical after two successful seasons in which we've brought in 19 young, promising players.

Ferguson said he would take his time finding a replacement for departed assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who left his United post last month to take over as Portugal manager. * Agencies

Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5

Virus keeps Rooney out of opener

United striker falls ill on tour of Nigeria and Ferguson admits he will not be ready for their first game.

Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

THE APPRENTICE