Jose Mourinho has moved to end any doubts about Wayne Rooney’s future under him at Manchester United by insisting the striker will remain as captain and has his complete trust.

Mourinho appeared to raise doubts about Rooney’s position in the team earlier this month when he suggested the 30-year-old was “maybe not a striker anymore” while discounting any possibility of him continuing in the midfield role he played under Louis van Gaal and for England at the Euros.

But the United manager – who tried and failed to bring Rooney to Chelsea three years ago - has sought to clarify his stance on the forward by stressing that he will retain the captain’s armband and be a vital player next term as he seeks to restore success at Old Trafford.