Rooney waits to deliver Hammer blow

TIL Desk Sports/ It is a sign of Wayne Rooney’s recent troubles that he is not guaranteed to make Manchester United’s starting line-up against West Ham on Sunday despite breaking a club record this week.

The United captain became the Red Devils’ all-time leading European scorer on Thursday with a fine finish to set up a 4-0 Europa League victory over Feyenoord. He needs just one more goal now to draw level with England great Bobby Charlton as United’s highest scorer in all competitions. Yet in a television interview after the Feyenoord game Rooney, who has struggled for form this season, launched into an attack on the British media.

Rooney, who was on England duty at the time, faced heavy criticism this month after photographs appearing to show him drunk at a wedding party were published in a newspaper. Although he apologised for “inappropriate” behaviour, Rooney has since downplayed the incident. The forward feels he has been harshly treated, but perhaps there is a sense that he has a point to prove too.