Wayne Rooney: 'I have to work hard to regain Manchester United starting place'

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney on the bench during his side's 1-1 draw with Stoke City at Old Trafford on October 2, 2016
© SilverHub
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney admits that he has his work cut out if he is to regain his place in Jose Mourinho's starting lineup.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has admitted that he will need to "work hard" to win his place back in the team's starting XI.

Manager Jose Mourinho has left the 30-year-old out of his side for the last three matches in all competitions following criticism of his early-season form.

However, Rooney is keen to work his way back into the first-team plans after he returns from international duty with Gareth Southgate's England.

"As a football player you want to play. It is my job, I love football and love being involved. I am not starting at the moment at Manchester United but I have to work hard to get back in the starting 11 and when I get chances take them," he told reporters.

"I don't know [whether I will start for England]. That is a question for Gareth. It is getting tiring [being asked where he wants to play], I have answered it many times. It is same answer, I will play where the manager wants me to play. I have never picked myself."

Southgate has confirmed that Rooney will stay on as his captain for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia.

Wayne Rooney of England applauds the supporters after his team's 1-2 defeat in the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between England and Iceland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 27, 2016 in Nice, France
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City76011871118
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs7520123917
3Arsenal7511167916
4Liverpool75111810816
5Everton7421115614
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd7412138513
7Chelsea7412129313
8Crystal Palace7322118311
9West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom72328719
10Southampton72327619
11Watford72231213-18
12Leicester CityLeicester7223811-38
13Bournemouth7223611-58
14Burnley721459-47
15Hull City7214714-77
16Middlesbrough7133710-36
17Swansea CitySwansea7115612-64
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham7115817-94
19Stoke CityStoke7034516-113
20Sunderland7025613-72