Date: 5th September 2012 at 10:50am
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Wayne Rooney admits he was shocked when he got back to Carrington this summer to find he had put on 7 pounds, but has refused claims that he has a lax attitude to his fitness.

Rooney was clearly struggling when United took on Everton in the opening fixture of the season, and for the next game against Fulham he found himself on the bench in favour of new boy Robin Van Persie.

Having matched his best ever season infront of goal in an attempt to push United to a 20th title, as well as appearing briefly for England at the European Championships, his summer break was well earned. But speaking in his latest autobiography, being serialised by The Daily Mirror, Rooney was shocked to see the effects of his time off when he returned to Carrington:

“I’m like most blokes, I put on a few pounds after a holiday.

“Even if I don’t train for a week, I put on two or three, but when I get back to Carrington [Manchester United’s training ground] for the first day of work, I’m in for a shock.

“The scales in the club gym tell me I’ve put on a few more pounds than expected – seven. Seven!

“Then I remember – I drank a few bevvies [beverages] while I was away. I’m stocky. I’m not like Ryan Giggs, all bone and lean muscle.”

“As a striker I need to work hard all the time. I need to be sharp, which means my fitness has to be right to play well. If it isn’t, it shows.”

Rooney is often ridiculed for his weight, but Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his striker:

“Wayne is no Ryan Giggs.

“Ryan has never put a pound on in his whole life.

“Wayne is a boy that needs games, you can see that from the frame he’s got. He is stocky, strong and really needs games, simple as that.”

 

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