London, Apr. 18 : Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final amid fears he that has a fractured metatarsal.

Club coach Alex Ferguson is set to throw in Federico Macheda for his first start at Wembley.

Ferguson admitted that he would make changes after the midweek Champions League win over Porto - in which Rooney was seen limping briefly - with one eye on next Wednesday's league game against Pompey.

By pitching Macheda, 17, Ferguson is putting his remarkable unbeaten record in FA Cup semi-finals on the line. Ferguson has won all eight of his previous semi-final ties, with four going to replays.

He believes Everton could prove the sternest test yet with David Moyes desperate to underline seven years of impressive progress at Goodison Park by winning his first trophy.

Ferguson accepts he will be open to criticism if he doesn't field his strongest team but argues that United's overloaded fixture list means he has to rotate his players. (ANI)