Tony Gale: Wayne Rooney is "wasted" in his new midfield role

Television pundit Tony Gale believes that Manchester United's Wayne Rooney is getting frustrated in his new midfield role.

The striker has been deployed in several midfield positions in recent games, as United boss Louis van Gaal continues to persist with Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao in attack.

Gale told Sky Sports News: "I think he will be getting cheesed off playing in midfield because for me it's a waste. Harry Kane energises Spurs and Rooney does the same for Manchester United.

"He is better than Falcao, he is better than Van Persie. He should be up front but they haven't got many midfield options at the moment so he's doing a job. Rooney is not a Paul Scholes he is a player with cutting edge and should be up front.

"I've seen Falcao two or three times this season and it's without doubt his knee injury has lost him a bit of an edge. As for van Persie, he is a yard off the pace and if you had Rooney up front no doubt he would be scoring goals. If you have that cutting edge, you have to be up front."

Rooney hasn't scored since Boxing Day.