Roy Keane claims Wayne Rooney will never take another penalty for Manchester United because Sir Alex Ferguson will be "fuming" about his latest miss.
The striker has staggeringly fluffed 10 out of 27 spot-kicks for United since moving to Old Trafford in 2004.
Fergie's reaction to Rooney's miss during United's narrow 1-0 FA Cup win on Wednesday said it all as he turned his head away in disgust.
Keane claims his former team-mate has shown he is not up to taking penalties and expects Ferguson to hand the spot-kick duties to fellow hitman Robin van Persie.
"He [Ferguson] will be fuming," said the United legend. "I think that will be the last penalty Rooney takes for United.
"He could have made things a lot easier. The last thing the manager would have wanted was for the game to go to extra-time.
"Wayne has missed 10 now and that is far too many. Clearly he is not up to to it in terms of taking penalties. Van Persie I'm sure will be delighted to take over that role."
While Keane was typically brutal in his criticism of Rooney, team-mate Ryan Giggs was more sympathetic.
Giggs, who is United's only player with a 100 per cent record from the spot this season, shrugged off Rooney's failures.
He does not see it as a major problem, and United have won all five games in which they have missed penalties this season.
"I think it's one of those things," said Giggs. "Wayne, under pressure, has scored so many crucial penalties for us.
"I mean, it's not so bad when it doesn't alter the result or it doesn't really matter on the night, but Wayne will be concerned because he wants to score goals."
Spotty herberts: Manchester United's penalties this season
Taker Date and game Scored? Result
Robin van Persie Sept 2 v Southampton No Won 3-2
Javier Hernandez Sept 15 v Wigan No Won 4-0
Nani Sept 19 v Galatasaray No Won 1-0
Robin van Persie Sept 23 v Liverpool Yes Won 2-1
Ryan Giggs Oct 31 v Chelsea Yes Lost 5-4
Wayne Rooney Nov 3 v Arsenal No Won 2-1
Wayne Rooney Nov 7 v Braga Yes Won 3-1
Wayne Rooney Dec 1 v Reading Yes Won 4-3
Wayne Rooney Jan 16 v West Ham No Won 1-0
Despite their five FA Cup successes under Fergie, United have not lifted the Cup since 2004 and Giggs admits this is not good enough.
Despite their five FA Cup successes under Fergie, United have not lifted the Cup since 2004 and Giggs admits this is not good enough.
"We haven't done as well as we should have done over the last 10 years," said Giggs, who, along with Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher, is the only current member of the United squad to have won the FA Cup with the club.
"We had a great record in the 1990s and we want to get to that final.
"We want to have a chance of winning it because there are so many players who have won a lot in that dressing room, who still haven't won the FA Cup, so we want to go far."
* WILFRIED ZAHA is ready for the Premier League NOW – according to the manager who put the Crystal Palace star on the road to fame, writes Alan Nixon.
Manchester United are closing in on a deal, and Dougie Freedman believes the youngster can cope with the big time immediately.
Freedman, who will send his Bolton side into action against Zaha this weekend, said: “In my opinion Wilfried Zaha is ready to step into the Premier League and a top-four side now.
“There is no doubt in my mind that he can play for a team like that. He went into the England set-up and did the same.
“I have known him since he was 12. He is a wonderful young guy who has really dedicated himself to the game.
“He has arrogance on the pitch and is very humble off it, a wonderful combination.”
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