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Charlie Nicholas: 'Manchester United system is hampering Wayne Rooney'

Wayne Rooney is struggling to perform in Louis van Gaal's current system at Manchester United, according to ex-Arsenal midfielder Charlie Nicholas.

Charlie Nicholas has suggested that Wayne Rooney's slow start to the new season is down to the system that Manchester United are using.

The England international, who has been moved to a central striker position, has failed to score in his last 10 appearances for the Red Devils.

Former Arsenal midfielder Nicholas has said that United boss Louis van Gaal should take some responsibility for Rooney's struggles in front of goal.

"It's the system that's the problem, it's a Van Gaal system," Nicholas told Sky Sports News. "He likes to stretch the game. That's the way he plays to bring space into account but this means the centre-forward can be quite an isolated figure.

"Rooney is not a target man. He can play centre-forward but he can't play as a target man and at the moment his service is poor.

"Until they identify the midfield - whether it's going to be [Juan] Mata, Memphis [Depay], [Ander] Herrera, or whoever it is going be, the two holding players in midfield will not suit Wayne. It's the system, it's not Wayne's fault."

United face Club Brugge in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier this evening.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City4400113812
2Arsenal431061510
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle431063310
4Liverpool43017169
5Aston Villa43017619
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton42206248
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest42204228
8Chelsea42118537
9Brentford42026606
10Manchester UnitedMan Utd42025506
11Bournemouth41215505
12Fulham41214405
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs41126424
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham411256-14
15Leicester CityLeicester402257-22
16Crystal Palace402247-32
17Ipswich TownIpswich402227-52
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves4013411-71
19Southampton400418-70
20Everton4004413-90


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