The clock is ticking on Wayne Rooney’s tenure at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United skipper has had a gilded career at the Theatre of Dreams, picking up five Premier League titles and a Champions League winners’ medal since leaving Everton in 2004.
However his powers have visibly been on the wane over the last few seasons and he has finally been dropped to a bit part role during this campaign.
Jose Mourinho will soon have to find a long-term replacement for someone who is two goals off becoming the club’s all-time top scorer.
According to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright the United boss won’t have to look far as the Arsenal legend reckons Henrikh Mkhitaryan has what it takes to fill Rooney’s boots.
After a torrid start at Old Trafford, the Armenian has hit a rich vein of form of late. He capped a series of impressive displays in the middle of the park for United with a stunning (if actually offside) scorpion kick goal against Sunderland.
Although it’s still very early days the midfielder’s career at Old Trafford, Wright has seen enough to feel confident he’s the man to replace Rooney.
Wright said on BBC Five Live:
“United didn’t start off brilliantly and they’ve been trying to get themselves going.
“Mourinho was working out his best team and who was going to play where. He’s got something with Rojo and Jones at the back. Pogba is playing brilliantly. I think Mkhitaryan is the long-term replacement for Wayne Rooney.
“You know that with the quality of players they have, now they’ve got it going, you have to say Man United will be in and around it.”
We’re not sure he has as many goals in his game as Wazza (even if the ones he does score are beautiful) but if his current form continues he could become something of a legend.
Long way to go, however.
