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Football

19th Aug 2016

Even an assist couldn’t stop the vultures circling around Wayne Rooney

Is it time for him to be dropped from the Manchester United first-team?

Tom Victor

Manchester United have a new hero now, and his name is Zlatan.

They also have that Paul Pogba fella, who looks pretty good, and a couple of decent new guys by the name of Bailly and Mkhitaryan.

Luke Shaw’s back from injury too, and looking sharp to boot, while even Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata are looking better than expected under Jose Mourinho.

What we’re trying to say is most United fans would not include Wayne Rooney in their top five players at the club. Maybe not even their top 10.

Sure, some might have said the same last season, but the increase in quality around him – so far, at least – has served to make his flaws all the more evident.

Rooney may have laid on the first goal against Southampton when his floated cross found the head of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but be was struggling up to that point.

https://twitter.com/ghostbiggie/status/766716979692572672

https://twitter.com/judeinlondon/status/766718054772375556

https://twitter.com/Futfanatico/status/766719605142269952

https://twitter.com/UncleBen_/status/766720280312053760

When the home side were awarded a penalty early in the second half and the former Everton man wasn’t the one to pick up the ball, some felt as though it was the end of an era.

With just two months left until Rooney turns 31, could he finally be on the way out, or at least out of the starting XI?

https://twitter.com/LiamPaulCanning/status/766731165000732672

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