Saturday 24 October 2015 11:56, UK
As Wayne Rooney celebrates his 30th birthday ahead of the Manchester derby on Super Sunday, we ponder the next stage of what has been a glittering career…
He might have reached a landmark birthday but Rooney insists he still has a long time left at the top. "Obviously it's a big birthday in anyone's life, your 30th birthday," he said this week. "But in terms of me and football, I still feel I am still young enough, and that I have a lot of years ahead of me."
Rooney has always had that determined outlook, but he could be excused for feeling his years. After all, it was way back in 2002 that he burst onto the scene as a thrilling teenager at Everton. His stunning goal against Arsenal five days before his 17th birthday remains an iconic moment in Premier League history, and he has sent records tumbling ever since.
Five Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph are his crowning achievements at club level, and England's leading goalscorer is now closing in on more milestones. He needs a single goal to match Denis Law's record of 237 for Manchester United, and another 12 will bring him level at the top of the pile with Sir Bobby Charlton.
When you put his numbers into context, accusations of unfulfilled potential seem unreasonable in the extreme. Only Alan Shearer has scored more Premier League goals, and Rooney's individual accolades are too numerous to mention. But such is the weight of expectation on England's brightest talents that he still splits opinion like few other players.
So what now for Rooney? While his desire and battling spirit remain, there is no escaping the fact that age has changed him as a player. Wednesday's draw with CSKA Moscow was the 676th appearance of his career, and the Liverpudlian has played at least 50 games in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
Rooney pointed out this week that he has suffered no major muscles injuries during his career, but the absence of any prolonged periods on the sidelines has also heightened his workload. Premier League tracking data from the last three seasons shows a steady decline in his average distance covered and average number of sprints per game, and a player once defined by explosive pace and formidable one-on-one ability is still adapting to his reduced physical capabilities.
How he adjusts will define the final stage of his career, but some of the onus falls on Louis van Gaal too. At present, it appears the United manager is still unsure of how best to use him. "Rooney can play in more positions," he said following his appointment last summer. "He's a multi-functional player."
Rooney's versatility has seen him moved around to accommodate others for much of his Manchester United career, culminating in last season's stint in central midfield. That experiment looked to be over when Van Gaal confirmed his plans to restore him to a central striking role in pre-season, but the stunning impact of Anthony Martial has raised fresh questions over Rooney's role.
Rooney, for his part, provided a reminder that he can still spearhead United's attack with a goalscoring performance in last Saturday's 3-0 win at former club Everton, but his form has been patchy at best, and in Wednesday's draw with CSKA, only David de Gea had fewer touches than him.
Martial has been moved to the left in recent weeks, but he scored his fifth goal in nine appearances in Moscow and Van Gaal already knows he is more than capable of leading the line. If the United boss decides the Frenchman's youthful talents are better harnessed through the middle, Rooney could find himself back in a more withdrawn role.
Rooney stated his desire to be United's main striker as recently as this summer, but while his best and most prolific campaigns - 2009/10 and 2011/12 - came when he played regularly up front, he has been unable to provide the same thrust on a consistent basis in recent months.
His comments earlier this week felt significant. "If you follow my career over the years, you see I've always been a team player," he said. "Obviously I want to score goals to help the team be successful, but the main objective in my career is not personal goals, it's the team's success. Individual honours are great, but there's nothing better than being successful with a team."
Rooney has frequently sacrificed his striking ambitions for the good of the team, and in order to remain a key player for United, he might need to adapt again. A reminder of his brilliance in Sunday's Manchester derby would be a perfect way to start the next chapter of his career.
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