TEAM NEWS: No Rooney for Manchester United as Van Persie starts on the bench against Reading

Sir Alex Ferguson has made wholesale changes to the team that faced Real Madrid on Wednesday, while Brian McDermott has also made several changes to his side for the FA Cup clash

Manchester United have left Wayne Rooney out of the squad to face Reading in the FA Cup fifth round, while Robin Van Persie has dropped to the bench.

The Red Devils manager has decided to make major changes to the team that came away with a 1-1 draw against the Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu, with only David De Gea, Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck keeping their place in the team, as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to rotate his squad.

With the Old Trafford outfit fighting on all fronts for silverware, the veteran coach has fielded a strong team, with Javier Hernandez given the nod upfront, and he will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 14 goals from 25 appearances this season, despite many coming from the bench.

Brian McDermott has also made several changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Stoke in the Premier League, with Sean Morrison, Jem Karacan, Nicky Shorey, Garath McCleary, Noel Hunt and Adam Le Fondre coming into the side.

The Royals gave Sir Alex’s side a scare when they last met, grabbing three goals but ending up on the losing side, however with many comparing this United team to the treble-winning side of 1999, it is unlikely the home team will slip up as their peformances have become more consistent.

Manchester United:
De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner; Valencia, Cleverley, Anderson, Young; Welbeck, Chicharito.
Subs: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Kagawa, Van Persie.

Reading: Federici; Kelly, Mariappa, Morrison, Shorey; McAnuff, Karacan, Leigertwood, McCleary; Hunt, Le Fondre.
Subs: Andersen, Gunter, Pearce, Carrico, Guthrie, Robson-Kanu, Pogrebnyak.

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