MANCHESTER, England — Wayne Rooney will be out for between two to three weeks with minor ligament damage to his right ankle and should be ready for the World Cup, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Friday.

The striker was injured in the final minute of United's 2-1 Champions League loss at Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Rooney, who has scored 34 goals this season, should be ready to help United's pursuit of titles in the Premier League and possibly in Europe.

While he will miss Saturday's match against Chelsea, the second leg against Munich on Wednesday and the following Sunday's league match against Blackburn, he could be in contention for the derby against Manchester City on April 17.

England coach Fabio Capello should have no concerns about Rooney playing in the World Cup opener against the United States on June 12.

"The nation can stop praying," Ferguson said. "It was panic (on Tuesday). We are relieved. When we saw him hobble off, you are hoping when you send him for a scan, you get some good news and it could have been worse given the way he hobbled off.

"But it's out of the way, we can put it to one side and get on with our job on the pitch."