Gary Neville has insisted that Wayne Rooney still has plenty to offer Manchester United, but says that the Englishman could have a big decision to make over his future next summer.
The 31-year-old has featured sparingly for club and country in recent months, starting just one Premier League game - the 3-1 win over Swansea City last time out - since mid-September.
Rooney now has further problems to contend with off the field, after being pictured taking part in a late-night drinking session at the weekend, but Neville believes that his former teammate is still a viable option for Jose Mourinho over the coming months.
"It is not the end of Rooney. I just believe he is entering into a different phase of his career where he is not going to play every week, and his contributions are going to be different than they were previously," he told Sky Sports News. "At the moment, the way Rooney fits into the jigsaw is that he plays some games and does not play others.
"He has arrived at that period in his career where ultimately, that is how it is going to be for him. But that is not a criticism, that is just a happening. That is what happens to all players as they get into their 30s. It is a personal choice that United players have had to decide previously; are they happy with those 25-30 games a season, or do they want to get out and play every week?
"That is something Rooney has to decide over the next six, 12 months or whatever that will be. It is not a choice Manchester United can make, as long as he has a contract. It is his choice. But you have got to remember, he has only been out of the team for four weeks. He will still be in the mindset of fighting to get back into the team and playing every game."
Rooney has four goals and six assists to his name from 14 appearances in all competitions this season.
Daniel Lewis
