Former Manchester United striker Joe Jordan has defended Wayne Rooney’s recent form, stating that the United and England captain should not be judged on goals alone.
Jordan, who scored 41 goals in 126 appearances for the Reds between 1978 and 1981, dismissed suggestions that Rooney is on the decline at the age of 30 and believes that the striker will return to his best if he applies the knowledge and experience gained over the years.
The Scotsman, nicknamed ‘Jaws’ due to his similarities to the James Bond villain, told the Daily Mirror:
Any player who equals Denis Law’s scoring record for Manchester United belongs in the very highest bracket.
But his value to the club goes far beyond the goals he scores – that’s why he is the club captain.
Over the years he has done it all and won it all for Manchester United. He typifies the spirit of the club and the essence of being a United player.
He has also played in numerous positions, and although he has not had a settled or consistent role in the team of late, his flexibility is a huge asset to the manager.
People are saying he’s turned 30 as if it marks the end of an era, but at that age it’s quite possible that we will now see the best of him if he is able to apply all the knowledge and experience he has gained.
It is not for me to decide whether he plays on Saturday, but in my estimation Wayne Rooney typifies what it means to play for Manchester United because he helped to set the standard now expected of them.
Rooney has been under fire recently from pundits and fans alike, and despite scoring eight goals in all competitions for club and country, many believe that the striker’s powers are on the wane.
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