Paul Scholes insists Jose Mourinho will start Wayne Rooney when it comes to the 'big games' against Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Co.

Rooney came on as a substitute in the Europa League on Thursday night and assisted Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the goal that secured Manchester United their 1-0 win over Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford.

United's captain was also on the bench for their 4-1 win against Leicester City at the weekend but Scholes feels Rooney's absence from the starting line-up in the last two matches does not mean that he will go unused by Mourinho.

Wayne Rooney came on as a substitute in the Europa League on Thursday night

Jose Mourinho handed Rooney a place on the Manchester United substitutes' bench

'He's been an unbelievable player for this club,' Scholes said on BT Sport.

'There's no saying that if Wayne had played on Saturday it wouldn't have been 4-1. I just think he's not in the greatest of form at the minute.

'The timing is right for him not to be in the team. We know Wayne. We work with him, day in, day out. He's a fighter. He won't sit back and just let this happen.

'He'll be fighting to get back in this team.

'When them big games come round - Liverpool, Chelsea, City - I think we'll see Wayne back to his best.'

Paul Scholes expects Rooney to be restored to the starting line-up for United's big games

Scholes was sitting in the BT Sport studio at Old Trafford alongside Michael Owen

Asked if he thinks Mourinho will start him in those games, Scholes responded: 'I'm certain we will.'