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MANCHESTER, England, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Striker Wayne Rooney is fit to start Manchester United's defence of their Premier League title this weekend, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
Ferguson, who would not be drawn on the club's widely reported move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov, was buoyed by Rooney's recovery from a virus contracted on United's pre-season trip to Nigeria.
Looking ahead to Sunday's game against Newcastle United at Old Trafford, Ferguson told a news conference: "That's good news for us. He has trained all week and done very, very well.
"He's been progressing really well."
With winger Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss the first six weeks of the season following ankle surgery, Rooney's return to fitness is a timely one.
Ronaldo, who scored 42 goals for United last season, is making good progress, according to Ferguson.
"He's well ahead of schedule. The specialist was surprised the condition he was in.
"For the next three weeks he will continue on the rehabilitation and then the final part will be endurance work and serious running before he goes into the football side."
However, the Scot was much less expansive about the much-tipped move for Berbatov, saying: "I have nothing to say about that. Nothing has changed."
NEW STRIKER
Ferguson is still looking to sign a new striker with Berbatov expected to arrive at Old Trafford shortly. In the meantime, the United manager believes he has the resources to start the season successfully.
"In terms of attacking options we are down to the bare bones but the backbone will be the midfield players and defenders, who are all available," he said.
"We have good variety there and hopefully that's enough to get us through the first hurdle. That will be the foundation."
Looking further ahead, the United manager said there was still room for improvement in a side who won a Premier and Champions League double last season.
"That's a challenge for us," he said. "You would think with young players like Anderson, Ronaldo, Rooney and Nani there is improvement there.
"I think that's the most natural thing you could say about our club. These players have that capacity to improve."
Club captain Gary Neville will start his 350th league game for United if selected at right-back ahead of Wes Brown after recovering from the injuries that kept him out for all of last season.
"I have a dilemma with the form of Wes Brown last year. In respect to Wes's contribution it makes it a dilemma," said Ferguson.
"But we are delighted Gary is back. He's such an enthusiastic player and with the quality of his game any club would miss that."
Owen Hargreaves, Park Ji-sung and Louis Saha are out of Sunday's game through injury, while Nani is suspended and Anderson is on Olympic duty.
