Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney urged to turn to cryotherapy to boost flagging career

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been urged to try cryotherapy and yoga in a bid to revitalise his flagging career by former England teammate Jermain Defoe. The 34-year-old Sunderland striker has resorted to a cutting-edge cryotherapy chamber in the twilight of his career — and has implored Rooney to follow suit.

Rooney, 30, has recently been dropped by United and England, with the country's all-time leading goalscorer having reached a crossroads in his career. But Defoe — who was Sunderland's top goalscorer last season — thinks a new approach to fitness could ensure Rooney ends his career on a high.

"Is age an irrelevance? 100%," Defoe said, according to The Mirror, amid talk of Rooney's future. "Ryan Giggs [who made his last Manchester United appearance at age 40] showed that. It was well-documented the things he was doing, like yoga and pilates. Teddy Sheringham played until he was 40. I think Les Ferdinand was 38.

"I just think, if you do it right, if you look after yourself like I always have then you shouldn't have a problem. It's unbelievable (the criticism of Rooney). People obviously forget what he's done and how much football he's played. Look at his record — the highest goalscorer — it's a little bit harsh in my opinion.

"Obviously there comes a point in a player's career where you can't get to the same level that you've been at before — and you set such high standards it's hard to be the same. But people can't forget what he's done and the amount of goals he's scored, not only for England but for Man United as well."

Despite the recent criticism, Defoe maintains that his former England teammate is still one of the best players the country has ever produced. He insisted, too, that using a therapy chamber — which helps treat benign and malignant tissue damage — could extend Rooney's career at the top.

"At one stage, he was the wonder boy playing for his country and now people are getting frustrated and the phones are burning. But he's one of the best talents England have ever produced. It's harsh. I'd say get him in the cyro! (therapy chamber).

"He's 30 and some of the things he's achieved in the game are unbelievable. He's a goalscorer and when he gets the chances he can finish and he can create goals as well. But I'm not the manager of Man United or England ."