Rooney says Amsterdam red card to blame for slump

WAYNE ROONEY is convinced the red card he received in Amsterdam, not any post-World Cup trauma, is the major reason for any dip in form this season.

Rooney celebrates his 21st birthday today having found his feet again this term after a spell when he appeared to be in the doldrums. Senior figures within the game have lined up to defend the man Alex Ferguson believes is the best young player to emerge from these shores in 30 years, calling on Rooney’s critics to get off the striker’s back.

Ferguson has not found a precise reason why the former Everton star appeared to be out of touch during the early weeks of the campaign, although he did suggest all the furore surrounding his appearance in Germany this summer had not helped Rooney.