Man United host FC Basel without Wayne Rooney

Striker Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United tie against FC Basel on Tuesday when the English champions chase their first win in this seasons Champions League.Rooney was ruled out for at least a week with a hamstring injury ahead of Saturdays 1-1 draw at Stoke.Its difficult to assess with hamstrings but we hope we have him back quickly, United manager Alex Ferguson said Monday. He did a bit of jogging this morning but thats all.Strike partner Javier Hernandez will also miss Tuesdays match after limping off early in the match that ended Uniteds perfect start to its Premier League title defense.While the draw at Stoke was Uniteds first domestic slip this season, the team had already dropped points in the Champions League when it was held to a 1-1 draw at Benfica in its Group C opener.Ferguson was already planning to rotate his squad against Basel at Old Trafford, but the injuries to Rooney and Hernandez will force him into an unexpected change up front.While both Michael Owen and Danny Welbeck are in contention, Dimitar Berbatov could get a rare start on Tuesday leading the attack.He is one of our squad members, Ferguson said of Berbatov. Its an exhausting season unless you use your squad.United also has injury problems in defense, with Jonny Evans ruled out with an ankle problem and Chris Smalling sidelined with a groin injury. Nemanja Vidic has yet to start training after sustaining a calf injury last month.Basel, which will be without striker Xherdan Shaqiri due to suspension, has a two-point lead over United and Benfica in Group C after beating Romanian champion Otelul Galati.Facing United will revive Basel coach Thorsten Finks memories of the 1999 Champions League final.Then playing for Bayern Munich, the midfielder came on in the 80th minute with his side leading 1-0, only to see United stage a late comeback for a 2-1 win.It is not a question of getting equal, Fink said. Going back (to 1999), it was a great memory, even in defeat. I think you always gain strength from defeat because everything that hurts helps you improve. ... If you are not careful against a team like Manchester United you end up paying.Basel has never won in seven visits to England in all competitions.