Wayne Rooney continues to spiral down the pecking order at Manchester United

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been reduced to a support act in the eyes of manager Jose Mourinho, after the England international was denied a slice of history in the Europa League win over Fenerbahce.

Rooney was twice denied the opportunity to take first half spot-kicks, despite being one of two designated penalty-takers and was prevented becoming the club's premier marksman in European competition - currently held by Ruud van Nistelrooy on 37 goals - and closing in on Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record.

At the start of the campaign Rooney was regarded as one of three options from the spot, along with new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba. However, the club skipper held no such authority as not once but twice chances to net his first goals since August passed him by.

In the absence of Ibrahimovic, Pogba took the responsibility in the 31st minute when he stepped up after Juan Mata had been felled by Simon Kjaer.

The France international sent Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel the wrong way to break the deadlock - yet further embarrassment would follow for Rooney less than two minutes later.

United won their second penalty in as many minutes as Mata's pass sent Anthony Martial through on goal. The former Monaco forward was tripped by Sener Ozbayrakli, forcing referee Benoît Bastien to point to the spot for the second time.

But instead of Pogba or Rooney being given the chance to double the advantage, it was left to Martial to sweep the hosts into a comfortable lead. Pogba added a brilliant third goal on the stroke of half-time before Jesse Lingard's first continental club goal clinched the points which took United into second place within their Europa League group.

Such was ease at which United claimed their second home win from as many group matches, which saw former striker Robin van Persie grab a late consolation much to the delight of the Old Trafford crowd, attention quickly turned to the confusion behind the club's penalty takers.

Rooney has already suffered the ignominy of losing his regular place for club and country, yet his stock continues to dwindle.

"The first penalty-taker was Paul," explained Mourinho to BT Sport. "We made that decision which he took and probably he didn't want to repeat because it is a second penalty a couple of minutes later. Probably because Martial was the one who has the previous action, and because he is a good penalty taker, they had that decision.

"It is not a problem for me. I always give the indication to the one who has the responsibility to take, with the freedom for the other guys to make a decision on the pitch."

Pogba, who took his goal tally since re-signing for United from Juventus in the summer to three, also attempted to clarify the pecking order but said he dictated to Rooney who would take the set-piece.

"It's Wazza or myself," he told BT Sport. "I told him that I wanted to take it and he let me take it. I am very happy to score that penalty and from a player like Wayne Rooney, the captain, to let me take the penalty was a big respect so I am very glad for that."