Nani defends Rooney: Still 'a special player'

Once again, Wayne Rooney struggled to make a telling impact during Wednesday's 3-1 win at third-tier Northampton Town, prompting fresh calls for the forward to be dropped from Manchester United's starting XI.

His former teammate Nani, now at Valencia, has offered Rooney support, however, stating his belief that the United and England captain still has plenty to offer at club level.

"Rooney is a special player. Strong, fantastic quality, shooting, vision - very intelligent," Nani told Omnisport.

"I enjoyed playing with him. He is a player who is a big part of Man United. He has chance to improve that and build his story."

Some would suggest that Rooney's United narrative is instead winding down to a rather anti-climatic end. The stocky forward has been playing regular first-team football since he was 16, and has recently appeared well off the pace in a No. 10 role - seemingly to the detriment of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's and Paul Pogba's effectiveness.

But Nani is adamant that Rooney can still steer United to glory and, despite being aged 30, can improve further under manager Jose Mourinho's watch.

"If he continues to play at a high level he can become the best there," he insisted.

Pogba, who has predominantly been deployed in a deep midfield two with Marouane Fellaini, surprised Nani when he opted to rejoin United from Juventus for a world-record fee this summer. He has so far struggled to make an impression, but Nani isn't prepared to join the Frenchman's doubters.

"A lot of clubs wanted him, there were rumours that other clubs would get him," he said.

"When he went back I was happy. He knows the club well and will be a star at the club."

United looks to address consecutive losses to Manchester City and Watford in the Premier League when reigning champion Leicester City visits on Saturday.