The champions rarely comment on internal disciplinary matters but several media reports on Monday said Rooney was fined a week's wages and dropped for Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Rovers after a night out with team-mates Darron Gibson and Jonny Evans.
The reports said Gibson and Evans were also fined a week's wages by manager Sir Alex Ferguson and, like Rooney, ordered in for extra work on their day off due to their lethargic performances in training the morning after their alleged night out.
The Daily Telegraph said "Rooney's 'lethargic' training leaves Ferguson enraged."
The Guardian reported that "Rooney has no beef with Ferguson after costly dinner," adding the England striker had reluctantly accepted his fine.
"Some will suggest the arch disciplinarian cut off his nose to spite his face... and that Ferguson's determination to show he still rules the roost at Old Trafford came back to haunt him," said Howard.
"The counter argument is Rooney should never have put Ferguson in the position where he even contemplated having to leave out his best player."
