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Fears for Wayne Rooney as temps hit 122f | Daily Star Manchester United arrive at the airport ahead of their pre-season match against Chicago Fire

Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen confessed they are scared at the thought of playing in sizzling Chicago this afternoon.

And boss Sir Alex Ferguson, 69, reckons he is going to sit the match out in an air-conditioned hotel.


Almost half of America is baking under its worst heatwave in a decade. And Chicago is one of the worst-hit areas.

But the Red Devils are going ahead with a draining friendly against appropriately named Chicago Fire.

They will play in deadly 122F (50C) temperatures that have already killed 22.

Top docs yesterday warned that Man Utd stars could suffer severe health damage by going ahead with the fixture.

Experts warned that the searing sun could cause players to vomit, faint and even be struck down by heart attacks.

One of the 22 victims of the US heatwave was firefighter Travis Miller.

At 31, he was the same age as Michael Owen. Travis died of a heart attack as he battled to put out a house blaze in Indiana in temperatures of around 32C.

Worried Wayne Rooney, 25, confessed he was having trouble just walking in the furnace-like heat.

Roo Tweeted yesterday: “Just landed in Chicago and it’s going to be hard playing in this heat. Hard enough walking in it.”

Rio Ferdinand, 32, said: “Just trained and it was baking hot. We kick off at 4pm vs Chicago Fire... get the fluids in now coz it will be sweltering out there!”

And Michael Owen Tweeted: “It’s a lot different in terms of temperature to where we’ve played so far so that will be a big challenge for us.”

Sir Alex said: “We’ve come from the nice cool atmosphere in Seattle to a furnace, so that’s going to be a test for the players.

“We will have to prepare for the heat and reduce training sessions.”

He added: “With the game itself we’ll have to make the appropriate changes – quite a few at half-time and more

early in the second half. I think I’ll just stay in the hotel!”