Rooney has a chance of being fit for United's league opener against Toon

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United manager Sir Alex Ferguson painted a gloomy picture ahead of Sunday's Community Shield game against Portsmouth at Wembley when he predicted that Rooney would miss that match and the opening league game against Newcastle due to a stomach virus he picked up in Nigeria recently.

But it is understood that the England and United striker has improved enough over the last 48 hours to be able to fulfill a filming obligation in Manchester this afternoon.

Improved: Wayne Rooney will fulfill a filming obligation in Manchester today.

Rooney had to pull out of the shoot for the EA Sports FIFA 2009 computer game at the Shamrock Pub in Ancoats last week, giving the first indication that he had returned from United's tour of South Africa and Nigeria with a problem.

But the 23-year-old is now considered fit enough to attend and has been given permission to do the filming by manager Sir Alex Ferguson at 2pm today.

Rooney is still not doing any serious training - only some light work - and is certainly out of Sunday's game against Harry Redknapp's FA Cup winners.

But it is understood that the player himself believes he will have a fighting chance of appearing against Newcastle if he gets a full week of training behind him next week.

Ferguson remains cautious and suggested before last night's final pre-season game against Juventus that Rooney's health remains a "concern".