‘I don’t have it’: Wayne Rooney calls on Michael Carrick to ditch the Manchester United star

Wayne Rooney has urged Michael Carrick to stop using Matheus Cunha as Manchester United’s centre-forward following their draw with Everton.

Cunha has led all three Premier League matches this season but has struggled to make an impact for the Red Devils.

The Brazilian international had yet to get on the scoresheet and was eventually replaced by Benjamin Sesco in the 70th minute on Sunday, with the Slovenian heading in United’s second goal in a dramatic 2-2 draw.

A calf injury has kept Cesco out of any of United’s pre-season matches, but the 23-year-old has scored impressive goals since Carrick’s appointment in January last year.

Cesco will now be looking to start in next weekend’s Manchester derby but, regardless of his fitness, Rooney believes Carrick must use Cunha in a different role to get the best out of the former Wolves striker.

“I just don’t want Cunha to be a number nine,” Rooney said on Stick to United.

“I think he is a good player, but I think there were moments yesterday that I really enjoyed with Tielemans and Mainu.

“I thought they controlled the situation well and what they did was simple but very effective and they played the ball between the lines.”

“But I just think sometimes he came in at two and if he goes as deep as the number nine and you don’t have any runners behind you don’t have anyone up top.”

“So I’d like to see [Marcus] Rashford was there and if you put Cunha on the left flank, but there was one time he did that and Cunha got turned and Rashford ran away towards the end of the first half, I think that was it.

“You watch how Cesco comes out, receives the ball, goes in, goes wide of the goal, gets into the penalty area and scores his goal. I think that’s what Cunha doesn’t give you.

“So if you don’t play and probe and hold the ball all the time and then allow Mbeumo to make more runs at the back and Rashford to make more runs at the back from deep areas, I just don’t think for me he’s someone who can play as a number nine.”

Elsewhere, former Red Devils striker Andy Cole shared Rooney’s views but backed Cunha to return to his best form after a poor start to the season.

“I wouldn’t want to judge Cunha as a number nine because he’s more of a free spirit than a hard-hitting striker,” Cole said. Metro via Unibet online casino.

“I have said before that he is good on the wings and can play from the back. So he can play many roles.

“He just needs to start repeating himself. This is what Manchester United expect. Hopefully he can continue last season’s good form into this season. He’s still picking up speed after the World Cup, but I really like him.”

For more stories like this, visit our sports page..

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.