Wayne Rooney should be banned from head tennis, kept in
isolation away from anyone carrying a winter virus and have his
boots reinforced if United's Treble bid is to be revived.
The Rooney factor has become the Old Trafford talking point after
the champions lost their fourth Premier League game of the season
in the derby.
The 22-year-old England striker has been the only senior regular
absent from those setbacks.
In the autumn, his broken foot sustained against Reading cost him
five matches during which the Reds lost the Eastlands derby 1-0
against the Blues.
They also dropped two points in the Fratton Park draw with
Portsmouth.
Ankle
In November, he damaged his ankle after an over-zealous game of
head tennis at the end of a training session at Carrington.
That put him out for three matches and United lost 1-0 at the
Reebok against Bolton.
At Christmas he was KO'd by a virus for two games and the Reds were
beaten 2-1 at Upton Park by West Ham United.
Last Sunday, a one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards this
campaign cost him his appearance in the derby and the Blues did the
double over the Reds.
In all, without Rooney, United have dropped 14 precious League
points. That would have easily swallowed up Arsenal's current
five-point advantage.
In matches without Rooney this term, Sir Alex Ferguson's side have
scored just one goal per game (11 goals in 11 matches).
With the England striker in the side they have scored 2.5 per match
(57 goals from 23 games).
Most of United's defeats without Rooney have been lifeless efforts
by the Reds.
Coincidence or significant?
Former United forward Lou Macari believes without Rooney, the Reds
lack a spark or `a Sparky'.
"Any team is going to miss a top player," Macari told MEN
Sport.
"No side is packed with 11 superstars and there are different types
and different levels of performers. But even amongst the very best
you can have players who have more of an influence when things are
not going right and Wayne Rooney is one of those players.
"I am not having a pop at anyone else or saying that a side can be
a one-man team because of it but there are, and always have been,
certain individuals whose styles are vital on any occasion and can
be more effective than others on an off colour day.
"I think back to Mark Hughes and I see the same vital ingredients
in Rooney.
"Even on a bad day, Sparky would be pushing and shoving people
about.
"He would be making defender's lives uncomfortable even if things
weren't going quite right for United.
"United could be having a poor time but Mark could always do same
damage and ensure that opponents never felt they could relax.
"His late volleyed goal at Wembley in the FA Cup semi- final
against Oldham that rescued United was a typical example of what I
mean.
"He pops up with a half chance when defenders probably thought
there was nothing on and had relaxed.
"I think Wayne gives United that same commodity now and it is
vital," added Macari.
"It is the nuisance factor. Even when he or United or both are off
form he will still be an irritation right to the last minute.
"He's aggressive and always wants to make a defender's life
difficult.
"He can be a pain in the backside for them and you need that
battling style when things are not going well.
"There are players in every side who are a big influence but when
things are not happening it collapses and they can't provide that
spark but Wayne Rooney can always have that one moment when he
upsets a defence.
Frustration
"Some of it can be borne out of frustration but whatever it is he
won't let things rest. He is special in that respect.
"In the derby last Sunday, for instance, United needed a player who
could upset people in a blue shirt. There was only one booking in
the derby and that summed the game up from United's point of
view.
"As a physical contest it was a non-event. You needed someone to
make a crunching tackle or knock the centre half about.
"It needed someone who would put the City back four on edge. Rooney
would have done that right to the very end.
"There are certain players you cannot do without in certain
situations and Wayne is one of those players when the chips are
down and you need an injection of urgency to shake up team-mates
and disrupt opponents."