Wayne Rooney is due for a harsh time from his manager Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United chiefs as reports have emerged of the striker getting knocked out after a boxing bout with his former United mate Phil Bardsley in his kitchen.
The incident is said to have taken place last month when Rooney was enjoying a jovial night-in with his mates. In a video obtained and held back by The Sun shows us that after exchanging light blows, one shot from Bardsley knocked the United striker cold on the floor.
One of the friends present at the scene explained the incident and said:
“Wayne had everybody worried when he hit the floor like that. He made such a thud when he went down. People were scared he had really banged his head and done some lasting damage.”
This will not please United’s manager who made Wayne Rooney his skipper earlier in the season and is heavily dependent on Rooney’s skills to drive United to a top 4 finish.
Rooney, who is a big-time Boxing fan and has a formal training in this sport is often seen in the arena during high-profile boxing matches. In an interview in 2008, Rooney credited his boxing training as the key factor for his tough mental strength and combative spirits on the pitch.
Rooney said:
‘I needed that extra bit of strength that the boxing training had given me. It made it easier to play than it might have been and it’s helped me with the way my game is now.
‘I’ve always loved watching boxing. All through my life – from the ages of six, seven and eight – when big fights were on television, I used to stay up with my dad to watch them.
“I think my boxing training was beneficial in my development as a footballer, especially breaking through to the Premier League at such a young age,’ he said in 2008.”
United fans would be praying that there are no after-effects of the ‘knock out’ punch and their star striker is fit enough to carry them in the remaining 10 games and help them to finish in top 4 this season. Next up it’s Spurs at Old Trafford for Rooney and he will look to lead the attack for Manchester United.