The 30-year-old England skipper has been omitted by Jose Mourinho from the squad along with fellow first team regulars, defensive duo Luke Shaw and Ecuadorean Antonio Valencia.
Manchester is blue: City stun United at Old Trafford
Jesse Lingard and Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan's hopes of a chance to prove themselves, after being unceremoniously substituted at half-time of the Manchester derby last weekend, have been dashed as they too remained behind.
Star young talent Marcus Rashford could well get his first start of the campaign -- having been restricted to cameo roles thus far -- whilst others who have found it hard to get some action could also figure like veteran Michael Carrick and Dutchman Memphis Depay.
Rooney retains England captaincy under Allardyce
United's other opponents in Group A -- a draw Mourinho compared to a Champions League group -- are Turkish side Fenerbahce, for whom their former striker Robin van Persie plays, and Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk.
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