ESPN pundit Steve Nicol believes that Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will play Wayne Rooney in behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the start of the season.
Rooney ended last term playing in a deeper midfield role under Louis van Gaal, and also featured in that position under Roy Hodgson for England at Euro 2016. However Mourinho has stated that the 30-year-old won't continue in midfield under his management.
With that in mind, former Scotland international Nicol believes that the United captain will be trialled playing off new signing Ibrahimovic in the final third.
He told ESPN FC: “They'll start off with Ibrahimovic centre-forward and Rooney in behind him, and then when he realises it's not going to work he'll change it. But he'll try it to begin with. I don't see him dropping him.”
The question of where to play Rooney is one of the most important things Mourinho must address ahead of the Premier League season.
Rooney scored just eight Premier League goals last season - his lowest-ever haul - and has shown signs of regression in front of goal.
The signing of Ibrahimovic, who by contrast managed 38 strikes in 31 Ligue 1 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain last term, adds depth to the forward ranks with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, but leaves further questions over the shape of United.
Attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was signed from Borussia Dortmund to add more creativity in the centre of the park, while he can also play on the right-hand side.
Mourinho, who's also widely reported to be chasing the signing of Paul Pogba, will have to decide upon a tactical shape that best suits the players at his disposal.
The Portuguese boss has previously praised Rooney, and tried to persuade him to leave the club for Chelsea in his second spell in west London. However whether he has the courage to drop his captain and highest-paid player remains to be seen.
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