Ibrahimovic shows age is just a number but Rooney's time is up

The latest signal that Wayne Rooney serves no purpose for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United came not in a game when he played badly or appeared out of his depth but one in which he was completely absent.

The United squad stepped off the coach at Old Trafford for their Boxing Day fixture against Sunderland without Rooney, providing the decisive clue that he wouldn’t be involved. He had pulled up with an injury during Christmas Day training and Mourinho is already planning for Saturday's match at home to Middlesbrough without him.

"Honestly I don't think so,” he said of Rooney’s chances of recovering in time. “Let's see. It's not a big deal but in four days I have my doubts."

He probably wouldn’t start anyway, not the way United are playing at the moment. Aware of United's repeated inability to put lesser teams down this season, Mourinho might have been more comfortable heading into the game knowing he could summon an influential captain when needed. He has turned to Rooney before in such situations, but his absence wasn't felt this time. Instead when it came time to make adjustments Mourinho went for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial. He wasn't sorry.

“In the second half we had good dynamic good creativity,” Mourinho said. “To have on the bench players like Martial and Mkhitaryan helps."

David Moyes took a lot of flak during his term managing Manchester United. The travails of subsequent managers have, however, proven the difficulty in restoring this club to its perch. One decision which can be hung like an albatross around his neck was the awarding of a multi-year, multi-million pound contract to Rooney. And that has proven to be a hindrance to every manager since.

It’s not only hard to envisage a long-term future for Rooney at United at this point, but it’s getting to the stage where it’s doubtful that he'll break Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record. He's on 248; Charlton is on 249.

Rooney has scored only one league goal all season in more than 800 minutes of play, with two more coming in the Europa League. His prospects of a starting role are all but extinct and a stadium which demanded his presence a decade ago barely registers that he’s out of the squad these days.

Despite being four years older than the England international, it appears more likely that Ibrahimovic has a future at Old Trafford. He has scored 17 times in 26 appearances for United, 12 of which have come in the league. He has already matched the total of United's top goalscorer last season – Martial.

There is no question that the Swede endured a dip in form in the autumn and into the winter but he’s central to the ambitions of Mourinho and United going forward. He has six months to run on his one-year deal, but the manager revealed Ibra has already mentally signed an extension and is nailed on to still be a Red Devil next season.

"It is not activated yet, but it is activated in his brain and in my mind and in the board," the United manager said.

Could Mourinho be similarly clear-minded about the future of his captain? Not a chance.

At an age when professionals are thinking about winding down or calling it a day, Zlatan has arguably taken on the biggest challenge of his career and is killing it. For that he must be commended. 

"I'm not really surprised [by his form] because he's a very intelligent guy, a very proud man," said Mourinho. "For him to decide to come to Manchester United, the Premier League, the most difficult league in the world for a striker - it's because he knows he can do it.

"When we contacted him and he said yes, I was sure he was not coming here to leave the Premier League without proof, to leave failing at Manchester United - no way.

"So when such a guy decided to come, I was completely clear that he would be ready and he's ready for more next season. He'll be here again."

Sunderland, Crystal Palace and West Brom are the kind of teams which ended up costing United in the league last season. Ibrahimovic could have been signed with overcoming such an issue in mind. He is on form and United are collectively. His desire to get involved in the build-up play yielded two goals on Monday – one for Daley Blind and another for Mkhitaryan late on. There is much more to the enigmatic No.9 than brute force as the delicateness of his touch on both assists would demonstrate.

“Finally we have four victories and 12 points but the players know the way we want to play,” Mourinho said.

Ibra has played every minute he has been available to Mourinho in the league. The same is not true for Rooney, who surely knows now that Old Trafford no longer needs him.

What he could do as a centre forward 10 years ago, Ibrahimovic can do just as well - if not better - at 35. Much has been made about Rooney’s efficiency this season when paired up front with Ibra but the Swede has proven he can do fine without him. Moreover, he is in the process of creating a better partnership with Pogba.

Furthermore, the limited skills Rooney displays as a playmaker are easily outmatched by both Juan Mata and Mkhitaryan. Michael Carrick is the natural 'No.6’ in Mourinho’s midfield that the manager said Rooney could never be. He’s been incorporated into a three alongside Ander Herrera and Pogba – giving United their ideal attacking shape.

Then you have Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Martial; perfect foil for all three attacking positions. To close out the game there’s Marouane Fellaini. It’s hard to see where Rooney fits.