Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of England’s international friendly against the Netherlands by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Sunday, robbing the national team of another striker.

Rooney has a throat infection that has forced him out of United’s past two matches, against Ajax in the Europa League on Thursday and Norwich in the Premier League on Sunday.

“Wayne has still not recovered from his throat infection, so hopefully we’ll get him ready for next Sunday, when we have a big game at White Hart Lane (against Tottenham),” Ferguson said.

The United manager also said midfielder Tom Cleverley, who has been struggling with an ankle injury, will not be linking up with the England squad for Wednesday’s match at Wembley Stadium.

Interim England coach Stuart Pearce is already preparing to be without Darren Bent after the Aston Villa striker was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the latter stages of his team’s 0-0 draw at Wigan in the Premier League.

The Football Association is yet to officially rule out Rooney, Cleverley or Bent.

Fraizer Campbell, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck are the remaining strikers in England’s squad.