Struggling Rooney suffers in the frontline

WAYNE ROONEY endured another tough day at the office, struggling to make an impact at the King Power Stadium before going off injured.

The England striker had the fewest touches of Manchester United’s outfield players and spent the final 22 minutes on the bench after a kick to his chest from defender Robert Huth left him with a painful cut.

Restored to a role up front by manager Louis van Gaal, the United captain provided little to threaten Leicester City’s defence.

He tried an early pot-shot that was held by keeper Kasper Schmeichel but then miscued a presentable heading opportunity.

In the second period he failed to connect after bravely flinging himself headlong at the ball from four yards out after Bastian Schweinsteiger had brought a fine stop from Schmeichel.

In the process, United skipper Rooney, who was actually offside as he dived, took a boot to the chest from Huth.

Rooney’s struggles in front of goal were put into sharp relief by Leicester’s Jamie Vardy who continued his impressive streak by scoring for a record 11th consecutive Premier League game.

Vardy now has 14 league goals for the season, whereas Rooney has scored the same number of goals in the past 15 months.

Van Gaal said his decision to replace Rooney was influenced by his injury.