Louis van Gaal: 'Wayne Rooney to continue in midfield'

Louis van Gaal has said that he plans to keep playing Wayne Rooney in midfield with Manchester United after the captain scored twice against Newcastle United.

The striker bagged a brace and set up the third in the team's 3-1 win over Newcastle United yesterday, extending the team's unbeaten run to eight matches in the league.

The manager told reporters: "He scores two goals and gets an assist. What more can you demand as a manager?

"In our last match against Aston Villa Rooney was a little bit too defensive so I asked for him to be more attacking. He has the lung capacity to run 90 minutes as a midfielder.

"I can also use him as a striker but for the team it's better he plays in midfield at the moment."

United travel to Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.