Scholes: Rooney is scapegoat

Paul Scholes claims that Wayne Rooney has been made the scapegoat for England’s dismal failure at last summer’s World Cup.

The 25-year-old was just emerging from a year of torment when he bagged his hat-trick at West Ham.

Rooney’s relief was probably a factor in the four-letter celebrations that landed him in hot water with the Football Association, triggering a two-match suspension that rules him out of next Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley.

At least the Manchester United striker is available for Tuesday’s Champions League return with Chelsea at Old Trafford though, having bagged the goal at Stamford Bridge that currently separates the two Premier League heavyweights.

And Scholes is confident there is more to come.

“He has received stick ever since the World Cup,” Scholes told United Review.

“It seems as though he has been made a scapegoat for what happened, and that isn’t right when there are 22 other players in the England squad.

“But Wayne showed at West Ham why he plays for us every week.

“He showed what he is capable of doing and gave a matchwinning performance.”