Ian Wright defends Man Utd captain Wayne Rooney after Liverpool winner

Ian Wright says Wayne Rooney is unfairly criticised by some Manchester United supporters.

The England captain scored the Red Devils’s winner in a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the north-west derby at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Rooney has now netted four times in his last three games in all competitions despite the suggestion that the forward’s best years are gone.

Former Arsenal striker Wright believes the United skipper will always be an asset to Louis van Gaal due to his never-say-die attitude.

“He just worked hard [on Sunday],” Wright told BBC Radio Five Live. “He always does.

“He gets a lot of stick. When Rooney is playing badly, he plays pretty badly.

“What he doesn’t do, he never stops trying to face up and get the ball. It’s the way he is. He is still playing for the team.”

Rooney, who moved to United from Everton in 2005, has scored six goals and has made two assists in 18 Premier League games so far this season.

The England captain has discovered some impressive form in recent weeks after a return of four goals in his last three games in all competitions.

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The Red Devils are in fifth place and two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur ahead of next weekend’s clash against Southampton.