DC United ace Wayne Rooney says former Manchester United teammate Paul Pogba needs to buck up his ideas.

The Frenchman has skippered United in their first two matches but turned in a below-par performance in last weekend's defeat to Brighton.

"He is a fantastic player but he has to do it for himself," he told CNN World Sport.

"If they're going to win the title, he'll be the main player in terms of them doing that.

"You hear a lot of people saying Jose Mourinho needs to get the best out of him but he needs to do it for himself and prove he's at that level to help Man United."