Ludicrous Rooney must implement radical change for longevity

HAD Wayne Rooney been returning to Old Trafford three weeks ago he would have been on a high, with two Premier League goals in his first two games and good performances. And yet when he goes back to his old club today, it now feels totally different.

For one, there is Everton’s form, with three successive defeats, including those 3-0 losses to Spurs and Atalanta last week.

But there is also the matter of him being charged with drink driving.

It is ludicr experienced professional, 32 years old, to put himself in this position. Had it been a youngster, you would discipline the player and hope they learn their lesson.

But with your mostexperienced player, it is too late to change them. As a manager, you would just scratch your head and

despair, wondering how he could get into that situation.

Rooney (right) could yet have a decent season for Everton and I would even be tempted to pick him for the World Cup, despite his retirement.

England do not have that many players with his experience of big games and his goal-scoring talent. But he will not have much longer in the game if the latest incidents are anything to go by.

A few years ago, I thought he would follow the example of Ryan Giggs and watch his diet assiduously, stop drinking, do some core muscular work and add something like yoga to his routine to improve flexibility. That kept Giggs going until the age of 40.

Rooney ought to have a good few years left. It would take a radical change though and, in reality, it should have happened when he was 29.

I SAID at the start of the season that Jose Mourinho was building a strong power team in the image of his Chelsea side of 2004-05. They are looking that way.

He does not have the best starting XI but I reckon he is privately pretty happy about the depth of his squad. And that he believes in them — possibly even more than the players do themselves yet.

The run of fixtures coming up suggests they will still be top at the end of next month, with Liverpool away in mid-October the most challenging of them.

But between October 28 and December 9 there will be an autumn of reckoning. In a sixweek period they face Tottenham at home, Chelsea away, Arsenal away and Manchester City at home.

Knowing Mourinho, he will set up not to lose those and maintain momentum. But it is that period up to the winter which will tell us how much substance there is to this revival.