• Premier League

Keane advises Rooney to put himself first

ESPN staff
October 18, 2010
Wayne Rooney has less than 20 months on his current deal © PA Photos
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Roy Keane has told Wayne Rooney to do whatever he feels is best for his career, claiming players are viewed like 'pieces of meat'.

Rooney's future has covered the back pages of the English press since the weekend after he was left out of the Manchester United starting line-up to face West Brom, following his own revelation that he has not been injured in the past two months.

The striker's comments appeared to shed light on a rocky relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, who had been using an injury as reason to leave the England man out of his team.

Now reports claim Rooney is refusing to discuss a contract extension, with his current deal set to expire in 2012, and Keane - who saw high profile exits such as Jaap Stam and David Beckham during his time at Old Trafford - advised the player not to allow any outside pressures to influence him.

"Players and managers fall out all the time. It's part of life," Keane said in Monday's press conference. "If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one.

"Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up. Luckily for Wayne he's at a good age and he's fit."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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