Roy Keane has claimed that the incident of Marcos Rojo eating a banana during Manchester United’s win over Rostov in the Europa League on Thursday night was staged.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been complaining about his side’s fixture pile-up in recent weeks and has been worried about his team’s fitness levels.

The Red Devils played on Monday and Thursday and now prepare to take on Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday lunchtime.

The unusual incident involving Rojo inevitably made the headlines but former Manchester United midfielder Keane was not at all impressed by it.

Keane told ITV Sport: “I think that was all staged, without a shadow of a doubt.

“He’s talking about the player collapsing. That was easier than a training session. Eleven against eleven on the training pitch; that was easier than that.

“And he’s talking about players collapsing. What rubbish. I’ve seen players maybe get Jaffa Cakes passed onto the pitch, so I wasn’t surprised a player was looking for some sort of food.

“But I think they made a bigger drama than what it was. He’s got other staff. One of the fitness coaches could have come on with that, the medical staff. He’s passing it on to Ashley Young, and he’s passing it on.”

MORE: The latest Man United news and views

MORE: The latest Man United player tweets

Manchester United head into their clash with Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Sunday looking to climb the table, with Mourinho’s men currently in sixth place.

The Red Devils finished fifth and won the FA Cup last season under Louis van Gaal, before Mourinho was appointed at Old Trafford last May.