STEVEN GERRARD has launched an impassioned defence of Wayne Rooney and believes he must remain Manchester United and England’s first choice striker.
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| Steven Gerrard reckons Wayne Rooney is still good enough for Manchester United and England |
Gerrard rejected criticism Rooney has become a busted flush and said the focus on the forward was allowing other players to escape scrutiny in United’s troubled campaign especially.
The debate around Rooney’s form has been swirling all season at United, who host Swansea today, and the eye-catching form of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane has seen his position with England also questioned.
Yet former Liverpool midfielder Gerrard said Rooney remains central to success for club and country.
“I just think when you are the captain of England and Manchester United all eyes are on you and fingers get pointed your way when things are not going well,” he said.
“I look at Manchester United and I look at England and these people saying, ‘Wayne Rooney is not good enough for Manchester United and England, bring him out ….’
“But who do you put in at United? Who plays instead of him? Who is a bigger goal threat? So (in my opinion) he starts for United, he stays in the team and he plays into his best form.
“You are talking about England going into a major tournament (next summer) and Wayne Rooney is a major player. And he is probably the only person capable - or proven - to get the goals you need to get out of the group to progress in the tournament.
“You can’t discard him and say put other people in. Vardy is not proven at international level. Kane has scored some good goals and shown he has got potential. But everything else is potential. Sturridge - we are waiting for him to get fit and stay fit consistently.
“If there is a penalty in the last 10 minutes to progress out of a group and into the last 16 or a quarter-final, who would you want to take the penalty?”
Gerrard, who returns to LA Galaxy next month, has been in Rooney’s position where his form is unpicked by all and sundry.
But he feels Rooney, who inherited the England captaincy when Gerrard retired after the World Cup in 2014, needs support.
“I am not saying no one should criticise him, but let’s analyse it properly,” added Gerrard. “Everyone knows he is not pulling up trees and in the best form of his life, but I am talking about big games moving forward.
“Who does everyone else in the dressing room at Manchester United and England look to for inspiration? Who are they all hiding behind pressure wise when it is not going well?
“Who are they are looking to if you take Wayne Rooney out at Manchester United and England? Wayne Rooney does more than just score goals.
“He has an impact on the whole team and squad. People need to support him.
“The easiest thing to do is point fingers and say, ‘Get him out.’
“I have been there and when you are not on top form, and you are under a bit of pressure and everyone is having a go, no one wants to turn that round more than yourself.
“But you need help. You need to play through it to get back to where you want to be. He hasn’t lost ability. For me he is getting a little bit of unfair stick.”
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