Embattled Three Lions forward has come out to defend his addition to the English squad for the summer tournament. Rooney has come under intense scrutiny of late as he returns from a knee injury that has kept him out for weeks.

Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United has been blighted by disappointments, which has led to speculation that the Dutchman will leave the club at the end of the season.

United have failed to win a trophy since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, despite heavy outlay on transfers under the reigns of David Moyes and Van Gaal.

After what has been at best a disappointing season at Old Trafford, the upcoming FA Cup replay against West Ham United perhaps provides the final opportunity for Manchester United to achieve some form of success this year.

With Louis Van Gaal also looking to the famous competition as the last chance saloon in terms of his personal job security, a trip to East London would certainly not have been the preferred destination for such a fledgling team.

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling reckons that the club are in desperate need of a comfortable win to improve their confidence.

He also wishes that such a win should come in the upcoming Europa League match against Danish champions Midtjylland. The first leg of the last 32 tie between the two teams will take place away from Old Trafford. Since the crucial second leg is at home, United are overwhelming favourites to reach the last 16. United are likely to put more focus on winning the competition since it would mean another trophy and a straight path to the Champions League group stages irrespective of the league position that United find themselves at the end of the campaign.

Louis van Gaal admitted that Manchester United supporters were right to criticise the team after they fell to a 2-1 loss against Danish champions Midtjylland in the Europa League.

This competition is now seen as a major helping step for United in their efforts to remain as a Champions League club.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has weathered a very difficult storm at Old Trafford this season as he has managed to survive at the club despite some poor form which sees the club outside the top four in the league table.

Although Van Gaal has been given the opportunity to turn the fortunes of his side around for now, if United do fail to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the campaign, the board may not see his future being at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman took over the reins in May 2014. In his first season with United, his opening brief was to get the club back into the Champions League following a one-year absence, which he achieved.

Even at the age of 34, Michael Carrick still manages to get consistent playing time in Manchester United. The veteran player has recently finished recovering from an injury which kept him out of the pitch for a substantially long period of time.

Michael Carrick is the oldest active player in Manchester United and his contract in Old Trafford will expire in the summer at the end of the season. This means that in a few months’ time Carrick will turn into a free agent but reports and rumors are linking the experienced midfielder to Newcastle United as well as taking up a managerial position in Old Trafford.

Since the day that Louis van Gaal was elected as the new coach of Manchester United, the Premier League club has managed to stay in the higher section of the English League but they haven’t been able to make that final push that is needed to win the league.

During the 2014-15 Premier League season, Manchester United landed the 4th spot and the Red Devils are currently positioned in the 5th spot which isn’t a terrible spot but it isn’t a fantastic one either.

The summer transfer window of 2015 finished in a very climatic way as reports were flooding social media claiming that Real Madrid was able to sign David de Gea on the deadline day and after it was believed that the Spanish shot-stopper was going to join Real Madrid.

It was later discovered that the transfer was not going to happen due to the paperwork not being delivered in time.

Inspired by Betway's recent article on FA Cup cult heroes, it appeared a perfect time to take a stroll down memory lane and pick out our own plucky Manchester United underdog that managed to etch themselves into a rich Old Trafford tapestry of talents.

With that brief in mind, there was one name in particular which sprang out, though it is more commonly a quiet whisper synonymous with Manchester United's modern-day success: Park Ji-Sung.

The footballer who spawned a thousand unfortunate terrace chants about dogs as a South Korean delicacy; Park is justly classed as an all-time great and icon of East Asian football but, back at former club Man Utd, he is still remembered fondly as a cult hero in those hallowed Old Trafford halls – which is not to do one of their most loyal servants an injustice.