Ferguson defends Wayne Rooney

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defended Wayne Rooney after the striker had been sent off for kicking out at a Montenegro player last week.

Rooney kicked Miodrag Dzudovic during that game, and then saw red for the challenge.

Afterwards, Rooney sent a letter with apologies to UEFA following the incident.

But Ferguson is not so concerned by talk of Rooney's temperament.

"I texted him (Rooney) but he's not got back to me yet," Ferguson revealed.

"I didn't see it, I haven't seen it all. It was one of these, how do you put it, reflex actions by the boy. He's been tackled, and he's reacted. He's got the fiery temper which to my mind is not the worst thing in the world.

"But he's shown tremendous improvement in terms of his temperament, his reactions to tackle and things like that over the last few years. As maturity comes along, then it brings other things you see, it brings the responsibility, which he is improving all the time."