Curtis Davies has chimed in with his view on where the England captain should play.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action with Hull City’s Curtis Davies
Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is under pressure after a string of poor performances for both club and country in the past twelve months, in a variety of positions. But speaking on talkSPORT, Curtis Davies has said he thinks Wayne Rooney is a better player when he plays in the number ten role, just off the striker.
After a woeful Euro 2016 where the England skipper was deployed in front of the back four, new Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho insisted the star was a striker – not a midfielder.
However, Hull City captain Curtis Davies feels Rooney is easy to mark when he plays in the number nine role and feels he’s much more effective just behind when in behind the striker.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with Wayne Rooney
Speaking to talkSPORT on Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show, Davies said: “I think you prefer him to play up right against you because you know where he is.
“When he plays that number 10, he’s very difficult because he drops into the holes where, as a centre-half, if you dragged out of there you make space for a Rashford, Martial or an Ibrahimovic.”
Rooney has failed to live up to the hype of his early burst as a youngster when he first joined the club, however he has been used in a number of positions at United where he’s been deployed as at times a deep line midfielder, something we saw in the summer.
Davies feels Rooney needs to know his position if he is to reproduce his best form.
“The problem with what is happening with Rooney is that people are saying that he hasn’t got a position,” he said.
“I think he is sort of being told different things and it might be difficult for him.”
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney
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