At 26, is ‘stocky’ Wayne Rooney Already on the Wane?

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Photo credit: Audrey Pilato http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanistadechiapas/5284558112/

The background

Since he bust onto the scene as a burly, barnstorming 16-year-old at Everton, Wayne Rooney has been arguable the Premier League and England’s best player. But questions marks over his recent form and fitness have prompted some in the football commentariat to wonder if, at the relatively young age of 26, his best days are already behind him. Rooney started the season in sluggish fashion, was benched and then sustained a nasty leg gash injury at Fulham when he came on a substitute. He’s expected to be ruled out for the next month or so.

Rooney has scored 29 goals in 76 England appearances. But he’s hardly played for the Three Lions in the last year due to injuries and suspensions.

Rooney: I know ‘I’m stocky’ and my body’s bruised and battered

Rooney himself has done his bit to raise questions about his likely longevity at the top level of the game.

In extracts in The Mirror from his book, My Decade in the Premier League, the England forward writes about the summer of 2009: “Early July: the first day back at pre-season training. I’m like most blokes, I put on a few pounds after a holiday. Even if I don’t train for a week, I put on two or three, but when I get back to Carrington for the first day of work, I’m in for a shock. The scales in the club gym tell me I’ve put on a few more pounds than expected – seven. Seven! Then I remember – I drank a few bevvies while I was away. I’m stocky … I gain weight quite easily.”

In the book, Rooney also revealed that, “physically I’ve taken a bit of a battering over the years; being lumped by Transformer-sized centre-backs or having my muscles smashed by falls, shoulder barges and last-ditch tackles, day in, day out, has left me a bit bruised. When I get up in the morning after a game, I struggle to walk for the first half an hour. I ache a bit. It wasn’t like that when I was a lad. I remember sometimes when I finished training or playing with Everton and United, I’d want to play some more. But football has had a massive impact on my body… ”

“During the season, I don’t think there’s any harm having a take-away now and then. The club always has someone on hand to talk to me about diet if I need them,” wrote Rooney in his book.

Rooney could be on his way out of Manchester United

At The Guardian’s Sport blog, Jamie Jackson argued that “from his lacklustre performances this summer, and the previously disappointing displays at the World Cups of 2010 and 2006, a conclusion can be drawn that Roy Hodgson will be fortunate if his England side ever harness the barnstorming Rooney that terrified defences as a teenager at Euro 2004.” “Rooney is still England’s best hope – he registered 34 goals for United last season, his best ever return,” reminded Jackson. “But an assessment of Ferguson’s latest moves in the transfer market causes the seasoned United observer – and, probably, Rooney – to wonder if his 30th birthday will be marked at the club. The £23m paid for Van Persie was primarily Ferguson’s retort to losing the title to Manchester City on goal difference. But the Dutchman’s arrival also secures United an indemnity. Beyond the goals, Van Persie’s lean frame and low-maintenance personality persuaded Ferguson to pay a top price for a 29-year-old who has had his injury problems. The thinking here runs that if Rooney were sold in January or next summer for, say, £35m, then United would recoup the fee paid for Van Persie (plus an extra £12m or so) and remove his £250,000-a-week wage from the books, and the money could be reinvested.”

Rooney is and idiot and should be fined

Dan Coombs at the Here Is The City blog argued that Rooney should be fined for returning unfit and his explosive book revelations could land him in a spot of bother: “He must know he is going to cause a stir by releasing his book, and the details of his Boxing Day bust-up with Sir Alex, and it is just plain foolish to do so. Everybody remembers what happened with Jaap Stam and his book, which saw him sold after his details of life at United was too candid for his manager’s liking. The problem perhaps lies with the fact Rooney feels he is untouchable at the club, and can do what he likes.”