Rooney could re-position as a midfielder after assuming the role against Stoke on Sunday.
There could have been a sign of things to come for Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, with Wayne Rooney occupying a central midfield role alongside Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils won the clash against Stoke 0-2 to put them 15 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League once again, with Rooney receiving praise for how he played in his new position.
With United having the twin problem of four international strikers at the club and Paul Scholes coming towards the end of his career, it could be that the 27-year-old solves both issues with a move back to midfield.
Along with Rooney there is currently Javier Hernandez, Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck available as forwards at Old Trafford. With the club also being linked with moves for Radamel Falcao and Burak Yilmaz in the summer, the fight for places up-front is incredibly fierce.
In contrast, whilst Michael Carrick has impressed in central midfield this season United’s other options in the position are scarce, with veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes coming towards the end of their careers and Darren Fletcher persistently struggling with injury.
This could well mean that a switch to midfield for Rooney would not only plug the gaps there, but his absence in attack would make way for another striker – an idea the England international has not refuted.
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Sir Alex Ferguson. It’s not for me to say,” Rooney told talkSport when questioned on the subject, before admitting he enjoyed playing alongside Carrick.
“He’s [Carrick] got great composure on the ball and he helps you when you’re playing alongside him. I think we complimented each other well.”
However, despite his versatility United would miss Rooney as a striker as he has scored 12 goals in 23 Premier League appearances so far this season.
COMMENTS