Rooney's return proves a damp squib

LONDON (AFP) –

England striker Wayne Rooney (L) laughs with teammate Leighton Baines during a team training session at the Saint George’s Park National Football Centre in Staffordshire, England on May 27, 2013.

Wayne Rooney famously announced his return from injury in time to feature at the 2006 World Cup with the bold declaration “the big man is back”.

But, at the end of a worryingly inconsistent season, it was perhaps fitting that Rooney’s latest return to the spotlight was a rather more tepid affair.

After a month spent languishing in unwanted exile at Old Trafford, Rooney was back in action for England’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday, but this was hardly the kind of dynamic display he needed to erase the bitter taste of recent weeks.

Since informing Manchester United last month that he wanted a transfer in a fit of pique at his reduced role in Alex Ferguson’s team, Rooney had been banished to the naughty step by the club’s now retired manager.

Frustrated by what he perceived as Rooney’s failure to stay in shape and the resulting erratic displays, Ferguson was already losing patience with the forward and had delivered a significant snub when he dropped him for the crucial Champions League last 16 second leg against Real Madrid.

The former Everton star’s decision to demand a move for the second time in three years, following a previous failed attempt to engineer a transfer in 2010, proved the final straw for Ferguson.

He left Rooney on the bench for the remaining games of his United reign, including his much-anticipated final home match against Swansea when the team received the Premier League trophy.

And while his team-mates gave Ferguson a fitting send-off, Rooney was stuck looking down from an executive box high in the stands.

Rooney’s desire to leave sparked reports Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea were all preparing bids despite United’s insistence that the striker is not for sale.

But if United’s new manager David Moyes was wondering whether Rooney still has the desired commitment required to dominate at the highest level, he won’t have been especially reassured by his player’s efforts against the Irish.

In his defence, Rooney was making his first start for club or country in just over a month and it was his first appearance of any kind since the start of May when he came on as a substitute against Chelsea.

But this was still an oddly lethargic display, lacking the trademark verve that made him such a terror for defenders earlier in his career.

Rooney had an early sight of goal when Frank Lampard picked him out with a long pass, but the striker’s lobbed volley drifted wide.

That summed up the 27-year-old’s patchy contribution in the first half.

He even managed to accidently thwart one England attack when he got in the way of a powerful Glen Johnson shot.

There was little sign of Rooney establishing much rapport with strike partner Daniel Sturridge either.

He tried to set Sturridge away for a counter-attack from deep in England’s half, but the Liverpool striker completely failed to read his partner’s intentions and Ireland stole possession.

After failing to score in his last six games for United, Rooney was sorely in need of a goal, but he was unable to test Ireland goalkeeper David Forde even once.

A sublime chipped ball to Theo Walcott early in the second half and several other astute passes underlined his undoubted quality.

But this was far from vintage Rooney and, with his United future still uncertain, it won’t just be his new-born son giving Rooney sleepless nights during the close-season.