- Plymouth have gone through a difficult run and have only managed one win in 10 games.
- Recent reports claim Rooney is ‘fighting to save his job’ at Home Park
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Wayne Rooney is not thinking about a possible sacking by Plymouth and insists he will focus on improving the team in January.
The Pilgrims have fallen to second-to-last place in the championship standings after a run of just one win in 10 matches. The unfortunate return has piled pressure on the former Manchester United and England star, who took the reins at Home Park in the summer.
Rooney retains the support of the Plymouth board and received public backing from chairman Simon Hallett earlier this month.
He claimed to be accepting the pressure he is under and revealed that his focus is on winter transfer targets to strengthen his squad.
“There are always honest conversations between myself, Neil (Dewsnip, director of football), Andrew (Parkinson, chief executive, Simon, whoever it is) about how we can improve and, from a recruiting point of view, which players we can improve.” bring in to help, what players we need, what players we need to go out.
‘These are all ongoing conversations, so come January we will be in the best possible position to get what we need. Getting injured players back will be like new signings for us, but we all know it, we have no illusions, we need to improve the squad, that is there for everyone to see.
Wayne Rooney has claimed he is focusing on January targets that could improve his team rather than the sacking.
Plymouth has fallen to second-to-last place in the Championship after a run of just one win in 10
The Pilgrims appointed former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan as Rooney’s No 2 last week.
“We are working very hard to put ourselves in the best position to do this as soon as possible.”
Last week, Plymouth appointed former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan as Rooney’s new number 2, following the departure of Pete Shuttleworth.
The 62-year-old spent nine years at Old Trafford over two spells and coached Rooney for five of them. His arrival at Plymouth did not instantly change fortunes, as the team suffered a 2–1 defeat to Swansea in their first game on the sidelines.
Plymouth have the unenviable task of traveling to Bramall Lane and taking on league leaders Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.
Pilgrim’s away form has been their main problem this season, having lost nine and drawn two of their last 10 away games, conceding 29 goals in the process.
If other results go in their favor, Rooney’s team could climb to 20th in the division with an improbable victory. However, failing to win will leave the door open for Hull City, currently bottom of the table, to overtake them.
In the next Championship clash, Rooney will face his former United team-mate Michael Carrick, whose Middlesbrough side are in the hunt for a play-off place.