Man United: One armband down, one to go for Rooney

Wayne Rooney starts his 11th season at Man United as captain

Michael Lintorn looks at why 2014/15 should be a successful season for Man United's new skipper Wayne Rooney...

If Sir Alex Ferguson was a Robin van Persie man and David Moyes was a Wayne Rooney guy, the forecast was that latest Man United manager Louis van Gaal's loyalties would lie with his compatriot, who captained their Netherlands World Cup squad.

It is therefore a huge display of belief in Rooney, and a shrewd strategic move by the Dutch tactician, to give the Englishman - who perhaps prospers from arm-around-the-shoulder treatment more than van Persie - the armband following Nemanja Vidic's departure.

Van Gaal swooned: "Wayne has shown a great attitude towards everything he does. I have been very impressed by his professionalism and his attitude to training and to my philosophy. He is a great inspiration to the younger members of the team and I believe he will put his heart and soul into his captaincy role."

There is no reason why the decision should unsettle or irritate van Persie either because van Gaal can cite Rooney's decade of Man United service, while the 3-4-1-2 system currently in operation at Old Trafford creates room for both up front, which is their primary concern.

The former Everton forward responded well to strong support from his old Goodison Park boss Moyes last term to deliver the third highest Premier League tally of his career (17 goals) despite his club's struggles and being restricted to 27 starts.

Rooney consequently looks a great bet to be one of the division's top four scorers for the fourth time this decade at 3.65n/a, and a valid candidate to be the outright leader at 13.012/1.

Van Gaal's backing will also make it easier for Roy Hodgson to name him Steven Gerrard's successor as England skipper without fear of rebuke from a media and public quick to scapegoat the 28-year-old whenever the Three Lions fall short of their expectations.

Rooney should be available to back at around 1.364/11 to lead his national side out in their first Euro 2016 qualifier away to Switzerland in September.