Wayne Rooney on Steven Gerrard: ‘An incredible player, an incredible leader’

The 29-year-old has found the net just once in the Barclays Premier League, but that does not mean he is a fading force, according to Beckham.

Beckham reckons Rooney will follow the path of another United favourite, Ryan Giggs, who altered his role in the latter stages of his career.

“Giggsy was a prime example”. He’s an out-and-out goalscorer, but I think at the end of the day with Wayne, he’s proved he can step into the midfield and play.

Rooney became England’s record goalscorer last month, but his form at United has not been great this season.

A hat-trick in the 7-1 aggregate Champions League qualifying stroll past Club Brugge and goals against Championship side Ipswich and still-winless Sunderland have failed to mask his malaise.

The hour-long film, “Rooney – The Man Behind the Goals” will be shown on BBC One at 9pm on Monday, October 5 and has been made by Goalhanger Films and commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One and Acting Controller of Factual Commissioning and Events, Alison Kirkham.

He said: “The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and his strength – he never stops. This film is not just about my goals, it’s about the people I care about the most, my team mates, the people closest to me but most importantly, my family”. “Maybe in the future we will play together again“.

“I’d have to say Stevie”, he said, when asked who was the best England captain he’d ever played with. But I think when you get older, you have to adapt your play.

“But unfortunately when you are Manchester United you can’t really have that”.

Ings was called up to the England squad for the first time last week and was hoping to earn his first senior cap after an impressive start to his career at Anfield but he also missed training at St George’s Park today due to an ankle problem.

“I like what I seen”.

“There are tough moments, and I think the weekend was a tough loss but, other than that, we seem to be slowly gradually getting back to a few excitement”.