Rooney shrugs off midfield switch claims

Posted Monday, April 15, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has made light of suggestions he could be playing in midfield on a regular basis next season.

Rooney looked comfortable in central midfield alongside Michael Carrick in Sunday's 2-0 win over Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League.

United had opted to start with Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez up top, leaving the former Evertonian to drop down to midfield at the Britannia Stadium.

The 27-year-old's future at the club has come under the spotlight this season as United manager Sir Alex Ferguson clearly sees Van Persie as his main striker, but with the Scot adamant Rooney still features in his plans there could be a new midfield role for the player next season.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask Sir Alex Ferguson that. It's not for me to say," Rooney told talkSPORT.

Rooney added: "Michael Carrick is a fantastic player. He's got great composure on the ball and he helps you when you're playing alongside him. I think we complemented each other well".

"He's an experienced player and it always helps playing alongside someone like that. Michael and I are capable of getting the ball down and trying to take control of the game.

"With Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic behind us everyone was talking to each other and making sure we were in the right positions when we needed to be. It was a great help for me."

United took the lead on Sunday inside four minutes thanks to a strike from Carrick before Van Persie netted a 66th minute penalty to seal the points and move United one step closer to a 20th league title.

After the game, Ferguson described Rooney's contribution as "brilliant" and revealed that he had played the striker in a different role on Sunday in a bid to get his confidence back.

Rooney has scored 16 goals for United this season.