Manchester Utd sign 'wizard of Oz'

LONDON, England -- Manchester United have signed a nine-year-old Australian wonderkid who is tipped to be as good as Wayne Rooney.

Brisbane-born Rhain Davis was snapped up by the Premiership champions after his grandfather sent a DVD of the youngster in action to Old Trafford.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed enough to invite Davis, who holds a UK passport through his mother Leah, to move to England and train with the club.

Rhain and his father Mark moved to Cheshire, close to United's training base, last month and will soon be joined by the rest of his family.

United striker Rooney is regarded as one of the best players in the world, but Rhain already shows enough promise to suggest he could emulate the England star's success.

To do so Rhain will first have to earn a full-time scholarship with United, which is awarded to promising 12-year-olds.

United were quick to insist they were within their rights to sign Davis at such a young age.

A statement from the club said: "Manchester United signs up to 30 boys aged nine for the under-10s of its academy in line with the rules that govern Premier League academies.

"The club has at all times conducted itself in accordance with academy rules.

"All academy students operate under the same conditions and the same discipline and application is expected of them.

"Manchester United is proud of its history of developing talented young players and invests considerable time and resources in trying to find the best young players of the future." E-mail to a friend