Wayne Rooney returns for Manchester United in friendly against Betis

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney seen here arriving at the team hotel in Bangkok, during the team’s pre-season tour last month (Getty Images)

27-year-old England striker Wayne Rooney made a welcome return from injury for Manchester United in a friendly against Spanish side Real Betis yesterday at United’s Carrington training ground. The match was a private affair staged behind closed doors away from the prying eyes of the media.

According to Eurosport, Rooney along with other senior team members Nemanja Vidic, Nani and Javier Hernandez started for United. Rooney had returned home after just the first day of United’s Thailand tour citing a hamstring injury. What raises even more eyebrows is that the forward has made an ahead-of-schedule return after having been rated ‘doubtful’ for the start of the season.

For the record, United went on to beat a young Betis side 3-0. Betis coach Pepe Mel revealed the result on Twitter.

Rooney’s return from injury meanwhile, has received a split vote in terms of its significance. While some have welcomed it as a positive sign in terms of the striker’s fitness levels and ability to recover from injury, there are quarters who believe that there was no injury in the first place, and that Rooney’s return from Thailand had more to do with a possible transfer to Chelsea.

United have one more pre-season friendly to go, as they play AIK in Sweden on Tuesday, before playing Sevilla at Wembley on Friday, which is set to be a testimonial game for United defender Rio Ferdinand.

The Red Devils open their new season next Sunday when they take on FA Cup champions Wigan Athletic at Wembley in the FA Community Shield. All eyes are sure to be on Rooney between now and then to see whether he will continue to wear the red of United come the new season.

Engañoso 3-0Bien el Betis.

— Pepe Mel (@pepe_mel) August 3, 2013