Macclesfield midfielder John Rooney is undergoing a trial at the Portland Timbers after spending a week with the Seattle Sounders in America's MLS. Wayne Rooney's younger brother is bidding to win a central contract rather than a deal at an individual club as he bids to move across the Atlantic to progress his career.

A statement on Macclesfield's website explained: "Should he impress in these trial spells he will be entered into the MLS 'draft' where clubs take it in turns picking the new players to join them for the coming season."