Wayne Rooney has been left out of the Manchester United squad for the friendly against AIK Stockholm on Tuesday night.
Manager David Moyes had insisted the pre-season fixture would see the wantaway striker return to the first-team squad.
United insist Rooney, a transfer target for Chelsea, is not fit to play because he injured his shoulder in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Real Betis.
Moyes said: 'Wayne hurt his shoulder in a fall during a match on Saturday. It's not too serious and I don't expect it to keep him out for too long.
'I'm disappointed he's missing the game because we were keen to get him back involved and ready to play.'
His absence will only fuel suspicion he is on his way out of Old Trafford after a dramatic falling-out with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last season.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has made Rooney his No 1 priority and the Blues have had two bids, the latest one for £25million, turned down.
Moyes has repeatedly stressed that Rooney is going nowhere and a United spokesman said on Monday: 'A bid was received yesterday and immediately rejected. Our position remains that he is not for sale.'
Rooney himself, however, was unimpressed by the manager's remarks that he would effectively have to be an understudy to main striker Robin van Persie and the England forward is expected to hand in a formal transfer request this week.
This is the second injury to have affected Rooney this pre-season. He flew home from Thailand earlier in July with a hamstring problem.
Dailymail
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