Manchester United striker knocked out in boxing match

Steve Dede 22:33 - 15 March 2015

In a video obtained by the UK Sun, Wayne Rooney can be seen knocked out by a fellow premiership player although they have revealed that it was a joke

A video has been released which appears to show Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney being knocked out in a boxing match with Stoke City defender Phil Bardsley.

Wayne Rooney and his former Manchester United teammate squared up for a boxing match during a night-in at Rooney's Cheshire mansion last month.

As the pair exchanges blow, Rooney is sent crashing with a blow from Phil Bardsley.

The England striker lies motionless under a chair for several seconds before the video, obtained by The Sun, cuts out.

The video is believed to have been filmed on February 22, the day after United lost 2-1 at Swansea.

Rooney is wearing a pair of white Adidas gloves while Bardsley pulls on a pink pair.

Neither man has a headguard on and while Bardsley is wearing shoes, Rooney is in his socks.

After touching gloves, they circle each other before Bardsley throws a left hand. Rooney paws back without connecting.

Bardsley is the more aggressive throughout, and tries to go for Rooney's body, pushing him back. The pair separate but again Bardsley comes on strongly, landing a right uppercut.

Rooney tries to respond but misses wildly before his former team-mate bides his time and throws the shot that sends Rooney backwards, narrowly avoiding a chair as he hits the deck.

Bardsley's wife Tanya however came on Twitter to reveal that the video was a joke,

"Seen the sun, 2 mates havin a laugh video doesn't show Wayne jumping straight up and laughing with Phil #cleveredit," she tweeted.

Wayne Rooney himself made light of the video while celebrating a gaol during an EPL clash with Spurs.

He celebrating by throwing fake punches before falling to the ground.

Speaking to Sky Sports after game, the striker insisted that there was nothing serious about the video.

"That's the world we live in today. It was a few mates in a private house which has somehow managed to go front page of a national newspaper," he told Sky Sports.

"It was me and a few friends joking around."

Watch Rooney make light of the video with this goal celebration