Tweet
Give Wayne Rooney time - Manchester United star is suffering with more than an ankle injury
COMMENT By MATT LAWTON Chief Football Correspondent
Last updated at 9:36 PM on 27th September 2010
Niggle: Wayne Rooney continues to have problems with the ankle first injured in MarchThere were two stories on the official Manchester United website at the same time on Monday. One said Wayne Rooney would be fit to face Valencia in Spain. The other said not.
'No Wayne in Spain,' read the headline, citing the same ankle injury that, on the conflicting report, had not been deemed that serious.
Clearly, there is more to his omission than the gash he sustained at Bolton on Sunday or even the continuing problems with an ankle first injured in Munich in March.
England's best player, and the best player at Old Trafford, is struggling, and understandably so.
Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his concern in an interview last week when he spoke of how difficult it must be for the 24-year-old when the focus on him, in the wake of those revelations about his private life, is so intense.
While Kevin Keegan was not terribly sympathetic when he suggested he should not have courted the media in the first place by teaming up with his wife to market the Rooney brand, he said he could see for himself that there was a problem that went way beyond any kind of injury. 'His performance at Bolton tells me his confidence is shot,' said Keegan.
Darron Gibson echoed that sentiment when he discussed Rooney's plight in an interview in his native Ireland.
Darron Gibson echoed that sentiment when he discussed Rooney's plight in an interview in his native Ireland.
Off: Rooney was substituted against Bolton on Sunday after just an hour'The recent scandal in the papers didn't do him any favours,' said Gibson, before then opining that the dip in form Rooney suffered at the World Cup has simply continued.
Only that's not quite true. Rooney was superb for England against Bulgaria two days prior to the scandal breaking and pretty damned impressive when Fabio Capello's side then went to Switzerland.
In fact, it's only since he got home to his wife that he has really started to struggle.
Only that's not quite true. Rooney was superb for England against Bulgaria two days prior to the scandal breaking and pretty damned impressive when Fabio Capello's side then went to Switzerland.
In fact, it's only since he got home to his wife that he has really started to struggle.
So if it's more time he needs to sort out his marriage, then Ferguson is probably right to leave him behind.
He is right for the sake of Manchester United as well as England.
Comment