Last updated on .From the section Man Utd

Radamel Falcao (left) remains sidelined for the trip to Manchester City but Wayne Rooney will return

Wayne Rooney is fit and will start for Manchester United against Manchester City on Sunday but striker Radamel Falcao remains out through injury.

Manager Louis van Gaal confirmed his captain will play after serving his three-game suspension and said reports he was injured this week were not true.

Colombian Falcao missed the 1-1 draw with Chelsea after receiving a kick in training.

Winger Antonio Valencia is back available after a hamstring injury.

Van Gaal dismissed reports claiming Rooney was a doubt because he had been seen hobbling at a sponsor's event at Old Trafford on Monday.

"The media was writing that but he was never injured," he said.

"Maybe his shoes were too tight, that is possible. But he was never injured and he shall play. He is my captain.

"He has scored a lot of goals against City, the most of any player, so I am very happy that he can play, and he shall."

Dutchman Van Gaal admitted he was looking forward to his first experience of management in the Manchester derby.

"It is difficult, because in Spain we had only a derby against Espanyol," he added.

"In the Netherlands, we had hardly a derby, or you had to call Ajax and Feyenoord one.

"In Munich, we didn't have a derby because 1860 Munich weren't a first division club, so I think this is the biggest derby that I shall manage.

"It's one of 38 matches, but for the fans it is unbelievably big as a rivalry."