London, Sept 6 (ANI): There was no one who could be more boring off pitch than Wayne Rooney - the man who would head straight home after a match and never even went to a nightclub - a role model for many, but that was a few months earlier.

To say that the spate of his scandals involving the prostitute Jenny Thompson have tarnished his squeaky clean image would be an understatement.

“People look up to you. You are role models whether you like it or not. You need to do things well for kids to see,” The Sun quoted Rooney as saying, back in March.

“When I first joined United I used to go out to nightclubs but it is very rare I would go out to a nightclub now. It changes with age and I made that decision myself,” he had said.

But by June, Rooney was a completely changed man, and not for the better.

Constantly edgy, picking away at his arm, not making eye contact, he was in a sad state, appearing to have weighty matters on his mind. Perhaps his past life had caught up with him after all.

There were rumours he would not travel to tomorrow night’s qualifier in Switzerland but these were firmly denied by the FA for whom a spokesman added, “It’s business as usual.”

“Some people might turn round and say, ‘I’ve had enough, I don’t need this, I just want to play football. But, whatever job you do, there will be things you like and things you don’t and that comes with the territory,” said James Milner.

“It’s pointless saying what’s ideal and what we’d like because that is the way it is and we get on with it. It would help if your life wasn’t scrutinised with what you’re doing in your personal life but that’s football,” Milner said.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a drink at the right time. It’s spot-on for players who want to drink and go out and enjoy themselves but there’s a time and a place for everything,” he added. (ANI)