The stories and images of Wayne Rooney out on the lash with Coleen and friends were the last thing United fans wanted to see ahead of the new season.

With so much depending on the 24-year-old, his night out until the small hours and images of him smoking a crafty cigarette and urinating in public are not acceptable for a player of Rooney’s stature – both as a footballer and as a role model.

The press are clearly out to get as many member of the England squad as possible following their dismal showing in South Africa so, as supporters, we have to be aware of their agenda.
But you would think Rooney, just back after an extended post World Cup break, would give the nights out a miss as he prepares for the new season. The football betting odds make him one of the favourites to be top scorer, but he will need to be in peak condition.

He has confessed before that he has had problems with his weight and has returned for pre-season out of shape in the past – even in his Everton days.

So that should place further emphasis on his fitness work. Plus it doesn’t take a doctor to tell you that smoking is bad for your health, especially if you’re an athlete.

Rooney remains United’s talisman and main goalscoring threat, despite the impressive early form of Mexican Javier Hernandez, and his form is key to United’s attempts to reclaim the title from Chelsea this season. The Premier League odds only make the side second favourites, after all.

We can only hope he has learnt a lesson from this week, bins the fags and concentrates on what he does best – scoring goals.