Manchester United: Wayne Rooney heaps praise on Daley Blind's reading of the game

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is pleased with Daley Blind's impact at Manchester United and insists that the Dutchman is a very good reader of the game which makes up for his lack of pace in the backline. The Netherlands international has been used as a centre-back this season for United owing to a injury problems at the back and the 26-year-old has done well, keeping the second best defence in the league after Tottenham Hotspur.

Blind started for the Netherlands at Wembley in an international friendly before the league season resumes this weekend. The Dutch got the better of England, who were flying high following their impressive 3-2 win over world champions Germany last week. Jamie Vardy scored a brilliant team goal to notch up his second in as many games but the Three Lions were guilty of some lax defending, with Danny Rose giving away a penalty and John Stones responsible for their second goal.

Vincent Jansenn scored from the spot while Luciano Narsingh was at hand to bury the second, allowing the Dutch a breather after what has been an extremely underwhelming few months for the Oranje. They finished fourth in their group for the European qualifiers and will now look to build for the upcoming qualifiers for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

Meanwhile, Blind had an impressive day in office and will now be looking to go back to Old Trafford and resume their quest for a Champions League spot.

"He's a very good reader of the game," Rooney said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News when doing punditry for ITV. "He will be the first to tell you he's not the quickest, but his reading of the game makes up for that. He's excellent with the ball."

Rooney is expected to return after the international break while Luke Shaw is expected to be back in full training for the Red Devils next week, having not played a single game since last September. United are currently one point adrift of fourth- placed Manchester City and have a quarter-final game against West Ham on 13 April.