Moyes leaps to Rooney's defence

David Moyes has jumped to the defence of under-fire Wayne Rooney and demanded critics look at their own consciences before hounding the teenage star.

Rooney, who will play in his first FA Cup final against Arsenal on Saturday, has seen his lifestyle and behaviour constantly criticised in a season that has seen him become a £27m (€39.2m) Manchester United signing from Everton.

Everton boss Moyes had a major influence on the Croxteth-born youngster’s early career, and admits to being disappointed by the abuse the 19-year-old now suffers.

Moyes launched a ‘boys will be boys’ defence of the player and said: “The attention is always going to be hard for him.

“Young boys have to grow up and we all go through the same things and have done the same things.

“The critics have probably done the same things as Wayne has. They are the people who should look into their consciences and realise this young boy is doing the same things as them and me when we were his age.”