Does Wayne Rooney still have a future as a striker?

Wayne Rooney's midfield move has led to some interesting questions

Wayne Rooney has developed into an excellent midfielder but is this change a permanent one?

When Louis van Gaal took over at Manchester United he had a problem to fix. That problem was defence.

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson took his final bow at the Hawthorns in a calamitous 5-5 draw with West Brom, it has been abundantly clear that scoring goals is not United's main problem, defending is.

Defenders have been bought but not the quality of player United needed to shore up the back.

Instead big money was spent up front and now the Red Devils are a top heavy team with Wayne Rooney paying the price.

After Van Gaal's men failed to pick up three points at West Ham last weekend, questions were asked over why United's star-studded attacking force have been toothless when they are expected to be ruthless.

Much of the blame has been focused on Wayne Rooney's new position in United's midfield. The 29-year-old has not had a shot on target in 2015, and failed to get a touch in West Ham's penalty area at Upton Park, a ground where he had previously scored 10 goals in nine games.

Meanwhile, Radamel Falcao's debut season has left much to be desired - the keen-eyed finisher that United were promised has failed to deliver and Robin van Persie has not quite looked the same since Sir Alex passed over the reins

United lack an attacking spark as Van Persie and Falcao lack the pace and dribbling skill that the Red Devils need to get in behind the opposition. The two world-class strikers just aren't working together, there is no chemistry, and there is a palpable lack of effort when the two are paired up front.

Van Gaal has made use of the pace of young James Wilson when United have looked flat in attack, and received considerable flak for turning midfielder Angel Di Maria into a striker whilst Rooney remained in midfield.

Di Maria's up front gamble didn't pay off and the Argentine has looked considerably more dangerous since slipping back into midfield. So the only question remaining is why the strength, drive and spark of Rooney isn't being utilised in United's languid attack?

"I would not say he will always be a midfielder from now on because it depends on the formation we use and the form of the strikers, but in the present system I need a right-footed midfield player," Van Gaal said.

"I think he likes playing in midfield because he is more on the ball. He can definitely play in more than one position."

Rooney has averaged 83 touches in midfield this season compared with 65 in a more advanced role, but in an attacking sense he has had much less of an impact.

The debate on Rooney has less to do with the form of United's captain and much more to do with Van Gaal's tactics.

There are several comparisons that can be drawn between Rooney and United legend Paul Scholes; the long ball, the long shots, the volleys and the occasional reckless tackle.

United's midfield was horrendous last season, following the departure of Scholes, and Rooney looks like the perfect candidate to take his place. Several times a game Rooney will dispatch a Scholes-esque cross-field ball to the opposition's corner and the former Everton man definitely has the footballing mind to make United's midfield tick.

In Rooney, Van Gaal has found a midfield solution - the passing problem is history - with only champions Manchester City enjoying better pass accuracy than Van Gaal's men. The problem now lies in attack, where Rooney is being sorely missed.

Rooney consistently performs for his team whether it be on the left wing of an England attack, up front, or in Van Gaal's midfield. And whilst he has all the necessary traits of a world-class midfielder, his future as a striker depends entirely on the form of his team-mates up front.