Rooney once again failed to get on the scoresheet as United were held to a 2-2 draw at the Reebok. He was substituted with 30 minutes to go and Michael Owen’s equaliser has only added to the pressure on his place.

United are next in action against Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday (Valencia 9/5, draw 23/10, United 6/4 – 90 minutes) and Rooney could miss the game with a minor ankle injury. However, there are some who believe that Sir Alex Ferguson should play Owen with the in-form Dimitar Berbatov in Spain anyway.

Rooney has received support from the Bolton manager, Owen Coyle, who admitted the England international is “an absolutely class act”. He went on to admit that United are “very fortunate to have him”.

These comments are in direct contrast to those of former England supremo Kevin Keegan, who has insisted that Rooney cannot blame the press for his recent poor form.

Allegations about his private life are clearly affecting the England star but Keegan believes that his lifestyle choices are not helping the situation. He also said the media scrutiny is par for the course with being such a high-profile figure.

Speaking to ESPN, Keegan expressed: “You can’t have all the contracts, sell your wedding to magazines and things like this, and suddenly say, ‘That’s the tap I want to turn on but we want to turn the other one off’.

“It’s just one tap and I know from when I played that if you are advertising boots and all these things, you have to go and make appearances. You are going to appear in the paper.

“But the one thing I would say is keep your home and your family out of it and just take your endorsements if that’s what you want to do.

“One minute you are courting it, the next minute you’re saying ‘I don’t want this’.”

Last week, Ferguson told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he did not believe Rooney was suffering from a confidence problem, a claim refuted by Keegan. He believes that his performance against the Trotters demonstrated that his self-belief has deserted him.

United failed to capitalise on Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City on Saturday and are now three points behind the league leaders. They have failed to win all three of their away games in the Premier League so far and if they are to challenge for the title, Rooney needs to return to form sooner rather than later.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.