Jamie Carragher leaps to the defence of Man United star

Jamie Carragher has defended Wayne Rooney following the recent criticism of the Manchester United striker.

The Red Devils forward has struggled to find consistent form for both club and country this season and has been dropped to the bench for a number of games so far this term.

It remains to be seen whether Rooney will be able to hold down a regular starting spot in the Manchester United first team in the games to come.

Rooney made the front page of some British newspapers during the week as he hit the headlines once again this season.

However, Liverpool legend Carragher feels that the criticism of the veteran striker has been over the top.

Writing in his column for The Daily Mail, Carragher said: “He has had to contend with a week of being headline news, but it is no secret that Wayne likes a drink, as I can testify about the first time I met him.

“It was 2002 and I was in a nightclub in Liverpool. Wayne was just about to make his debut for Everton but he was full of confidence and he told me with absolute certainty what he was going to do to me in his first derby game!

“It’s been 14 years since that meeting but, with five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, a Champions League and 119 England caps, he hasn’t done too badly, has he?

“I think some of the coverage about him has been way over the top — he had a week until his next game — but the scrutiny shows the world we now live in.”

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Manchester United finished fifth and won the FA Cup under Louis van Gaal last season before he was sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

The Red Devils have not won the title since 2013.