Striker Wayne Rooney was conspicuous by his absence as his current Manchester United side prepared to take on former club Everton at Goodison Park.
The England international, who has had to cope with revelations about his private life all week, was not on the team coach when it arrived at the ground an hour and 15 minutes before kick-off and his name did not appear on the team sheet.
Rooney was reportedly at the team's hotel in Manchester on Friday night and there was a suggestion he may have travelled independently but Sir Alex Ferguson's selection dispelled that theory.
The couple have faced a week of torrid speculation and newspaper headlines after claims the Manchester United striker visited a £1,200-a-night prostitute while his wife was pregnant.
In a statement, the couple said: "It is impossible for us, as it would be for any family, to attempt to resolve any issues in the current media glare and against the backdrop of so many inaccurate and intrusive stories. We would therefore ask that the media now respects our privacy and the right of our family to discuss these matters in private."
The issuing of a joint statement suggests the pair are going to try to patch up their marriage.
The England striker returned to the property in the early hours of Wednesday to find his wife Coleen had left with their 10-month-old son Kai. It is believed Rooney has not seen his wife or son since returning from England's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in Basel on Tuesday night.
The Wag and columnist has been staying at her parents' home in Huyton, Merseyside, while she mulls over her future. The mother-of-one had to face claims from Jennifer Thompson, 21, that she regularly slept with Rooney while Coleen was pregnant.
Since leaving Everton for £25 million in 2004 Rooney has been given a hostile reception when returning to Goodison. Everton defender Phil Jagielka said that will definitely not change if he plays today - with fans expected to debut a host of new chants that have been doing the rounds in Liverpool.
Striker Wayne Rooney was conspicuous by his absence as his current Manchester United side prepared to take on former club Everton at Goodison Park.
The England international, who has had to cope with revelations about his private life all week, was not on the team coach when it arrived at the ground an hour and 15 minutes before kick-off and his name did not appear on the team sheet.
Rooney was reportedly at the team's hotel in Manchester on Friday night and there was a suggestion he may have travelled independently but Sir Alex Ferguson's selection dispelled that theory.
The couple have faced a week of torrid speculation and newspaper headlines after claims the Manchester United striker visited a £1,200-a-night prostitute while his wife was pregnant.
In a statement, the couple said: "It is impossible for us, as it would be for any family, to attempt to resolve any issues in the current media glare and against the backdrop of so many inaccurate and intrusive stories. We would therefore ask that the media now respects our privacy and the right of our family to discuss these matters in private."
The issuing of a joint statement suggests the pair are going to try to patch up their marriage.
The England striker returned to the property in the early hours of Wednesday to find his wife Coleen had left with their 10-month-old son Kai. It is believed Rooney has not seen his wife or son since returning from England's 3-1 victory over Switzerland in Basel on Tuesday night.
The Wag and columnist has been staying at her parents' home in Huyton, Merseyside, while she mulls over her future. The mother-of-one had to face claims from Jennifer Thompson, 21, that she regularly slept with Rooney while Coleen was pregnant.
Since leaving Everton for £25 million in 2004 Rooney has been given a hostile reception when returning to Goodison. Everton defender Phil Jagielka said that will definitely not change if he plays today - with fans expected to debut a host of new chants that have been doing the rounds in Liverpool.