The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has dismissed the suggestion that Wayne Rooney was carrying an injury while on England duty at the World Cup.

Rooney, who was part of the side that departed ignominiously in the second round, failed to score in four appearances and looked a shadow of the player who struck 34 times for United last season. Ferguson, however, denied that an ankle injury suffered during United's run-in had impacted upon Rooney's form in South Africa.

"There's nothing wrong with the lad or his fitness," said Ferguson in the Mail on Sunday. "He's relaxing on holiday in Barbados and I expect him to come back refreshed for the new season."

Rooney will miss United's pre-season tour of the United States, along with other team-mates involved at the World Cup.

Ferguson has also suggested that United will not be making any more forays into the transfer market, meaning the centre-back Chris Smalling, whose move from Fulham was agreed in January, and the Mexico striker Javier Hernandez will likely be the only new faces at Old Trafford this summer.

"We've looked at a few options," said Ferguson. "We did consider David Villa but he was always going to Barcelona. I just don't believe there is value out there at the moment. I'm very happy with the strength of our squad as it is."

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing a sensational bid for Manchester City's out of favour midfielder Stephen Ireland.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the Red Devil's chief was furious he was beaten to the signing of former Valencia star David Silva earlier this week who opted for a move to Eastlands.

Ferguson had hoped to sign Silva with an eye for him to be the long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, but the transfer fee and his £150,000-a-week wage demands, priced United out of any move.

As a result, Ferguson now wants to launch a bid for the unsettled Ireland, something that will test the resolve of City to not sell to their biggest rivals.

As exclusively revealed by Goal.com UK, United have already been linked with Ireland but the arrival of Silva, along with Yaya Toure, is expected to see his first team opportunities limited further next season.

Ireland was City's 'Player of the Year' in 2009, but now appears to have fallen down the pecking order under manager Roberto Mancini and may favour a move away from Eastlands to resurrect his career.

It is reported that Mancini is set to continue his summer shopping spree and hopes to wrap up deals for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, Barcelona's Dani Alves, Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel or Lazio's Serbian full-back Aleksandar Kolarov.

A hamstring injury sustained in February's Carling Cup final cut short Michael Owen's first season as a United player. Now, after surgery and months of rehabilitation, the striker says he's looking forward to lacing up his boots on United's pre-season tour.

Speaking at the launch of Sky Sports 1&2 on BT Vision, Owen revealed he's nearing full fitness.

"I'll be ready for the start of the season, although I might have to miss one or two pre-season games on the American tour," he said.

That news may come as a blow to fans in Toronto, where United kick off pre-season preparations on 16 July, but supporters in Philadelphia, Kansas City, Houston and Guadalajara (Mexico) will be hopeful of seeing Owen in action.

He's certainly making good progress and has worked hard over summer in order to make a full recovery from an injury that turned out far more serious than first thought.

"Basically, I tore my hamstring. It came apart. I had surgery to tie it back together and at this stage I'm not sprinting but I am kicking balls."