Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United’s next three games (Everton, West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea) due to his bone-headed red card in the 59′ versus the Hammers on Saturday. Rooney has made his explanation and given his apology. That incident had been vivisected enough. We’re done analyzing what it means, instead let’s look at who might assume the captaincy in his absence.
Who does Louis van Gaal give the Captain’s armband to?
1. Darren Fletcher-
the obvious choice as he’s the club’s vice-captain. But he was only used as a substitute versus West Ham United and he doesn’t really play much of a role with the team.
2. Robin van Persie –
No wait, this is actually Captain Obvious as he is fellow countryman to Louis van Gaal, and the man who was really the only other choice other than Rooney when Van Gaal was deciding who would get the honor this past preseason.
3. Phil Jones-
Football pundits keep throwing his name out there, and he has been with the club since 2011-12 so he is as plausible as the next guy. He is training with the first team now and will be available to help solve the crisis in the back line versus Everton. Jones has passed fitness.(here’s more on that)
So we’ll see who gets the call while Wayne Rooney is out for the next three.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2