David Moyes takes inclusive approach to keep Wayne Rooney

THE most revealing narrative involved what Rooney did to create two of their goals against Swansea.

Moyes works on Rooney

IF Wayne Rooney's lack of interest in celebrating when Manchester United scored was the photo-story of last Saturday's 4-1 win at Swansea, the more revealing narrative involved what Rooney did to create two of their goals.

To help open space for a Robin van Persie strike he made a clever decoy run. To send in Danny Welbeck he fashioned a delicate pass and took a painful hit in doing so.

Rooney's pout said what we already knew - that he wants to leave United. But his play said what perhaps we didn't - that whatever he is feeling personally, professionally he is still capable of peak effectiveness and commitment. And, given the decoy run was a sprint of lung-burning sharpness, that he is now near to peak physical condition again.

David Moyes is ready to select Rooney tomorrow, despite Chelsea's courtship of his striker and his striker's eagerness to play for Jose Mourinho. Moyes said: "I have no doubts about playing him in this one - he has a great chance of starting."

Once the game is done, Chelsea may be willing to hike their offer for Rooney _ previously 25 million pounds ($43m) as high as pounds 40 million pounds. There are ironies. Rooney's best way of encouraging Chelsea to push the boat out may be to play brilliantly at Old Trafford - yet doing so would surely only underline to Moyes why it's so important to keep him.

The current seems to be moving against a transfer. Until the past few days, Rooney was optimistic he might be able to come to an understanding with Moyes that would enable him to leave but he is starting to think the odds are against that happening. In his Friday press conference Moyes repeated that there was "no change" in United's "not for sale" stance.

Ed Woodward, the United chief executive, backed by the club's owners, the Glazer family, has been sending the same message to Chelsea. The imminent arrival at Stamford Bridge of Willian will further bolster Mourinho's attacking options - but Rooney remains the player he wants.

It seems increasingly likely that Chelsea and Rooney will have to wait until the January transfer window, or even after next year's World Cup, before having another stab at a union. A theory is that Moyes and Woodward, more established in their roles by then, might find it easier, politically, to sell such a stellar player. In terms of business rationale, there would also be more pressure on United to do a deal - Rooney will have less than 12 months on his contract next summer. A comparable situation persuaded Arsenal to sell Robin van Persie (who was 29, the ge Rooney will turn next year) to United in August 2012.

Could United change Rooney's mind about departing if he stays for another season? The offer of a long and fat new contract would, of course, hold persuasions. But there are personal issues. Rooney is peeved at what he sees as grandstanding by Woodward on the issue of his future and has not forgiven Sir Alex Ferguson for announcing that he had requested a transfer last season, when he says he did not. Rooney has no issue with Moyes, however. He will play for him - as he showed at Swansea - and Moyes' belief in him would be emphasised if he starts tomorrow (Monday). For Moyes, coverage of the Rooney saga is part of his induction to the job in English football that attracts the fiercest media spotlight.

"I keep hearing David Moyes is under pressure yet none of the other managers who have taken new jobs are under pressure," Moyes said. "It suits my kind of nature. I'll fight back and quietly get on with my job."

The Times