Rooney to continue in midfield

Louis van Gaal has hailed Wayne Rooney’s versatility as he looks set to continue in the central midfield role he has occupied recently.

Rooney played as a deep-lying midfielder against Aston Villa as Manchester United extended their unbeaten run to seven games at Villa Park.
The Manchester United captain has scored or assisted 94 goals in his last 100 league games at Old Trafford and he continues to be an influential figure at the club.
When United were chasing the game at Villa Park they switched to a 3-4-3 system with Wayne Rooney in midfield and the change helped them force an equaliser.
"Against Aston Villa he (Rooney) was more of a defensive midfielder. He has the ability to run from box to box - that is also a little bit that he has to feel in the match, to read in the match that he can do that"
"That is a matter of time and I believe that he can do that."
Van Gaal later confirmed the United players, in a break with tradition, will be given Christmas Day off. The squad will report to Carrington on Boxing Day, rather than convene in a hotel the night before the match.
"I have changed that, I have given them free time and Christmas day with the family," Van Gaal told MUTV.
"We shall come together the next day here at our Aon Training Complex. Then we will have all of the meetings like we have done all season."