Manchester United: Peter Schmeichel wants Wayne Rooney to take up midfield role for Red Devils

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel believes that the Red Devils should use Wayne Rooney in midfield where he can have the same influence that Paul Scholes enjoyed in his prime. The striker has had to face competition from Anthony Martial to keep his position through the middle, but Schmeichel thinks that his reading of the game makes him much suited to a midfield role at this age.

Rooney is currently out of contention with a knee problem for which he is undergoing treatment, but should be available for their late run-in, with the European Championships also on the horizon. The striker was expected to be back after the international break, but the 30-year-old has had a setback and was on the stands to cheer his team to a 1-0 victory over his former club Everton.

Schmeichel insists that Rooney has all the credentials to feature in a midfield role for the Red Devils, as he has the vision to pick passes and is well endowed in the defensive aspect. However, the switch can only be possible if the striker himself is willing to shift his position and not under duress from the management.

"Wayne can play in different positions. If you ask him, he wants to play in the No 10 position, but I'd like to see Wayne develop into a midfield player because he can play a little bit like Paul Scholes did. I am sure he can develop the engine to play in midfield," Schmeichel told Sky Sports.

"His vision and the way he sees football is really beneficial to the way that Manchester United should play. He can play the long passes that we've seen [Morgan] Schneiderlin pass, but he can also play the little balls, as we've seen so many times when he has been asked to play in other positions. He can tackle, he can win the ball back and he can defend. But Wayne has to want to play in that position," he added.