Chris Sutton is of the belief that Wayne Rooney would have been dropped by now if Manchester City's Pep Guardiola was Manchester United manager.

As the debate rages on about Rooney's role at United, Sutton feels that the England captain is struggling and should be left out of the United line-up by Jose Mourinho, even suggesting that the Red Devils star has 'had his day'.

In the wake of United's 3-1 loss to Watford on Sunday, former Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Celtic striker Sutton wrote in the Daily Mail: “If Pep Guardiola was the manager of Manchester United Wayne Rooney would be dropped immediately.

“Rooney is a problem for both Jose Mourinho and England manager Sam Allardyce. Putting it simply, there are better players in his position for both club and country now.

“Mourinho has got to be brave enough to leave Rooney out.

“United have lacked pace, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not the sort of striker who will move in behind the defence and Rooney is no longer a No 10 who does that either.

“I would have the best player in Germany last year, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, playing instead of him for United and for England I would pick Dele Alli.

“Rooney is holding both teams back. It is as simple as that. The problems really all come down to Rooney. He is the major issue here. If you leave him out it gives you far more options.

“Rooney has had his day."