Wayne Rooney out of Manchester United's Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland

United are yet to explain if Rooney is injured or if he has been dropped, but he did not travel to Denmark.

Manager Louis van Gaal will give a press conference at 5pm GMT in which he is expected to explain Rooney's absence.

United's under-fire manager admitted at the weekend that the Europa League - along with the FA Cup - have become priorities for United since they represent the best chance of a spot in Europe next season for a club that is now well adrift of the top four.

And Rooney himself said as much on Tuesday, saying that it would be "great" to claim the continent's second-biggest trophy.

"It would be great if we can win it," he said.

"It's not where we wanted to be at the start of the season but it's where we've found ourselves so why not go and try to win it.

"This is more or less a new team so for ourselves, as a team, we need to win something. The fans want to see us win something again."

[ROONEY ABSOLVES LVG: Rooney: Van Gaal has shouldered blame, players have got off lightly for poor performances]

Those words from Rooney echoed what Van Gaal said at the weekend about his team's best hopes of a Champions League spot next season.

"I think after [the Sunderland] match that [the Europa League] is the best route but it is not easy because a lot of good teams are in this event,” he said.

[LVG: Europa League now best route to Champions League for Manchester United]

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