Van Gaal insists Rooney will continue playing in midfield

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, has told Wayne Rooney to get used to playing in midfield for the club’s best interests.

The England international was deployed in a holding midfield role against Burnley on Wednesday, with Michael Carrick injured and Daley Blind coming off with headache.

Rooney, who has scored 224 goals in over 11 years for United, has not started as a striker in two months and is yet to register a shot on target in the league this year.

Van Gaal is however adamant this his skipper plays best in the withdrawn position and will continue to use other players in attack.

“Rooney was one of the players who showed the best composure today,” Van Gaal said in his news conference.

“You can put every week these questions but I have to decide. You can ask me every week and I have to compare with Falcao and Van Persie, [James] Wilson and Rooney because these were the strikers for me.

“I have to look for the better balance and I think until now because of Rooney we have a better balance in midfield and I was very pleased how he replaced Daley Blind in the No. 6 position [defensive midfield].

“He showed composure and of course he was also today the Rooney that I want to see, but he has showed that he can play in every position.

“But maybe he can better play in a strikers position, but then I have a problem in midfield and then you are asking another question.”

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