Wayne Rooney omitted from Manchester United squad for Europa League tie with Anderlecht

Wayne Rooney's career at Manchester United has taken its latest setback after the 31-year-old was omitted from Jose Mourinho's squad for the side's Europa League tie with Anderlecht.

The England international did not travel with the team to Brussels for what will be United's biggest game of the season as they eye Europa League victory, and the gurantee of Champions League football that comes with it.

Rooney has missed United's past two matches through ankle issues but returned to training earlier in the the week.

After being assessed, though, the decision was made to leave the forward behind - despite taking part in Wednesday morning's training session with team-mates.

Niggling injury and illness have kept Rooney out of the squad in recent months as he's become less and less a part of the picture at Old Trafford.

His last United start came four-and-a-half weeks ago and has made just one start in the Premier League since Dec 17. He was also omitted from the Europa League squads for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 ties home and away to Saint-Etienne and FC Rostov.

His latest omission raises further questions over his future at the club as he continues to be linked with a return to his boyhood club Everton.

David De Gea, who has been nursing a minor injury that kept him out of Sunday’s trip to Sunderland, has been included in the squad.