Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney has copped his punishment from manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the chin after last week's night out.

The Daily Mail says Rooney was fined more than £200,000 and dropped by Manchester United because he was thought to be the worse for wear and unable to train properly after a night out.

Sources close to the situation were at pains to stress that Ferguson's strict punishment of Rooney will not have a long-term impact on the working relationship between the manager and a player United cannot afford to do without.

On Sunday afternoon, Rooney told his followers on Twitter: "My resolution - to start the year as a champion, and finish it as a champion..."

With that in mind, Rooney is expected to take his place in the injury-hit United team at Newcastle this Wednesday night.