Manchester United travel to Midtjylland without captain Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has been left out of Manchester United's squad for their Europa League last-32 first leg against FC Midtjylland this week.

United announced this morning that they would take an 18-man squad to Denmark for Thursday's tie and captain Rooney is absent.

The club have not said why the striker is missing, but Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal is expected to reveal the reason at his pre-match press conference later today.

Matteo Darmian is also absent after dislocating his shoulder in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Sunderland.

Man Utd squad to face Midtjylland on February 18: De Gea, Romero, Love, McNair, Smalling, Blind, Poole, Riley, Carrick, Herrera, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Pereira, Weir, Mata, Memphis, Martial, Keane