Time Rooney Left United

Phil Neville says Wayne Rooney may have to leave Manchester United and join another club for the good of his career.

Rooney - the United and England captain - has struggled for first-team games under Jose Mourinho this season and Neville does not expect him to start in the Europa League final against Ajax on Wednesday.

Neville's former club Everton are interested in re-signing Rooney this summer and the ex-United full-back believes now is the right time for Rooney to move on.

"You hope (he doesn't leave) but the way the season's gone, particularly since Christmas, he's not been involved as much as he'd probably have liked," Neville told Sky Sports News HQ.

"He wants to play in the biggest games and when it comes to Wednesday night I'd be surprised to see him in that starting XI.

"It looks like he's on his way out of Manchester United and it happens towards the end of your time. You get the signs that now is the time to leave, and probably now is the time.

"If he wants to continue playing at the highest level - week in, week out - and be the first name on the team sheet, then he'll probably have to go and play his football elsewhere."

United travel to Stockholm for the Europa League final which will decide their Champions League fate next season, having failed to finish in the Premier League's top four.

Neville believes the clash with the famous Dutch side will define Jose Mourinho's first season at Old Trafford and hopes he will do what no other United manager has done before and win two trophies in his first season.

Neville said: "I think if you're assessing the season you have to wait until after Wednesday's game. The whole season has been based on trying to qualify for the Champions League and, ultimately, they wanted to finish as the Premier League winners, but now they've got the chance to win the Europa League.

"If they finish the season with a Europa League win, a League Cup win, and qualifying for the Champions League, then it's been a brilliant season. Two trophies in his first season - I don't think any other Manchester United manager has done that. But it all depends on Wednesday night.

"It's a massive game. The pressure is on United. There's no pressure on Ajax at all. So it will be interesting to see how the United players cope with the pressure of being the team that's expected to win."

Credit: Skysports.com