Paul Ince has labelled Wayne Rooney's move into midfield as an 'insult'.

The Manchester United and England captain has recently been criticised for his performances in a deeper role for both club and country, with former Red Devils star Ince taking it one step further.

"I think it's an insult to Rooney playing him in midfield," said The Guv'nor on the Paddy Power blog.

"He is the greatest goal scorer for England and he's only three goals shy of being the greatest goal scorer for Manchester United - so why do you want to play him anywhere else?"

Ince added: "He has always been a clever player, but midfield is not about getting the ball and spraying it 40 yards out wide with a Hollywood pass.

"You have got to track people, you have got to tackle and you have got to win the battles in there.

"Rooney hasn't got the mentality of a centre midfield player to go up against the likes of Didi Hamann or myself. We would simply overrun him."