Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer believes that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney must be dropped to revive his stuttering season, according to reports from talkSPORT.

Rooney has been in terrible form for the Red Devils so far in the current campaign, which has seen him only score two league goals in 10 league fixtures.

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His poor performances have seen the media and even fans point out that Rooney is no long capable of playing at the very top level, and the criticism only worsened when the England international only managed to put in one shot on target during their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, the third successive goalless stalemate in succession.

And Shearer, who is the Premier League's record goalscorer with 260 goals, has urged United manager Louis van Gaal to drop the 30-year-old from the starting lineup and give him a bit of a break.

"His spark has gone out at the moment," he told the Sun. "He needs time out of the game to relight that fire inside him.

"I know it will be a huge issue if boss Louis van Gaal takes the bold step and does leave him out for a couple of weeks but that is what needs to be done for the player’s own good.

"It might seem odd to say this as we are just 11 games into the season. But it would benefit him, Manchester United, and probably England as well.

"Sir Alex Ferguson used to do it regularly with players, just give them a couple of weeks away from football.

"Don’t train, don’t even watch a game. Just fly away and do something else. Relax, recharge.

"He is far from finished, he just needs a break.”

Man United will host CSKA Moscow in a Champions League qualifier this Tuesday, before West Bromwich Albion come to Old Trafford on the weekend.

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