Bryan Robson: 'Wayne Rooney should start for Manchester United'

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Stoke on February 2, 2016
© Getty Images
Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson believes that Wayne Rooney still warrants a place in Jose Mourinho's starting XI, despite recent criticism of his form.

Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson has claimed that Wayne Rooney deserves to keep his place in the starting XI.

After a difficult 2015-16 campaign, questions have once again been asked of Rooney during the opening weeks of the current season, with some suggestions that he no longer warrants a place in Jose Mourinho's side.

However, Robson still believes that there is a place for the captain, insisting that he was not the worst offender during United's recent run of three consecutive defeats.

"Wayne would definitely be in my team. He's got great quality. He hasn't been at his best at the start of this season, but what I can say is that he hasn't been one of the worst Manchester United players," he told talkSPORT.

"We've had a few players who haven't hit form at the moment, and have got a 50-50 chance of whether they're in the team or not.

"But as far as I'm concerned, Wayne's got a good understanding with Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] and [Marcus] Rashford. So, at this moment in time, there is still a place in Manchester United's team for Wayne Rooney."

United will look to return to winning ways in the league when they welcome champions Leicester City to Old Trafford on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Stoke on February 2, 2016
Read Next:
Mourinho defends under-fire Rooney
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City66001851318
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs6420103714
3Arsenal6411157813
4Liverpool6411169713
5Everton6411104613
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd6402127512
7Crystal Palace6312107310
8Chelsea6312109110
9Southampton62227618
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom62227618
11Watford62131011-17
12Leicester CityLeicester6213811-37
13Burnley621358-37
14Hull City6213712-57
15Bournemouth621349-57
16Middlesbrough612369-35
17Swansea CitySwansea6114510-54
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham6105716-93
19Stoke CityStoke6024415-112
20Sunderland6015512-71
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand