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Cape Town - Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is being backed by legendary ex-Reds skipper Bryan Robson to return from suspension a more mature presence and with an even greater awareness of his responsibilities as the team's leader.
Rooney took over as the new club captain under Louis van Gaal in the summer and is enjoying the role but he also accepted accountability for his sending off against West Ham in September, which forced him to miss all three United matches in October through suspension.
Manutd.com report that the former United captain was speaking at a Q&A session with fans as part of his social media launch at Old Trafford recently, where he said: "I think the manager made the right decision in making Wayne captain. There wasn't anybody who stood out above Wayne; he's as good a captain as we've got at United."
Few people are better placed to set out the qualities required to wear the armband, but Robson says Rooney has all the necessary attributes, and the Reds legend spoke to Wayne about the additional expectations for the captain of United.
"The way Wayne goes about the game, works hard for his team-mates and works hard for himself, is an example to everyone," added Robson.
"The one thing Wayne has to take on board is that he's under even more scrutiny now.
"We saw him get sent off recently and, as a captain, you can’t be doing that. But Wayne knows that – I spoke with him at the training ground after the incident and he's well aware of it.
"He's calmed down an awful lot in recent years.
"When he was 18 he hadn't matured; now it looks like he's beyond that. But in my mind I think he's done that because he's keen to impress, desperate to show people he cares. I don't think it'll happen again."
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