Wayne Rooney performance in first start for DC United drew quite a reaction

To be fair, Wayne Rooney has not had a full preseason to get his match fitness up to scratch.

Rooney definitely looked like he was lacking his usual sharpness when he made his first start for new club D.C. United on Saturday night.

Having come off the bench for his debut last weekend, he was given a starting place against Atlanta United this time around but even he would admit that he struggled.

Rooney's new side fell to a 3-1 defeat to the hosts, leaving D.C. United with just 14 points from 16 games this season, and the former Manchester United and Everton forward was directly to blame for Atlanta's equaliser.

After Zoltan Stieber opened the scoring for the visitors, three unanswered goals arrived for Atlanta and the first saw Rooney play an aimless ball into midfield, where it was snatched upon by an opposition player and the ball was soon in the back of the D.C. net.

Wayne Rooney is Amazing thank u Everton for letting him grace the MLS . Never seen such technical ability. He can’t hang in the MLS. He should have gone to Swansea in the champ pic.twitter.com/t5HtibxJcH — Rob G (@RobG_LasVegas) July 21, 2018

The ex-England international had the opportunity to make up for his error with a free-kick from the edge of the box just moments later but his effort was smacked into the wall and the less said about the follow-up shot, the better.

Wayne Rooney has found some form in the states 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/blF1I5OncH — FPLPriceChanges+ (@FPLPriceChanges) July 21, 2018

We got a glimpse of Rooney's short temper after half-time when he lashed out at defender Michael Parkhurst, which earned him a booking.

It was clear for all watching that it wasn't going to be Rooney's day and he was hauled off with 25 minutes remaining.

At least things can only get better for the 32-year-old...

It’s going to take Rooney a while to fit in, so a lot of this is to be expected, but he’s been downright awful today. #DCU — Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) July 21, 2018

Rooney having a shocker of a game for DC tonight — Andy Kelly (@Kelbo1178) July 21, 2018

Rooney has been finished for some time now, so bad now he can't even compete in the MLS. I've said for few year he's finished and been shot down. He covered up how bad he was for years by scoring penalties. Sad how badly his career went down hill really, got to think 🍺 to blame — Jonathan Snaith (@Jonny_Snaith) July 21, 2018

Awful game from Rooney. Disappointing — Caleb Polen (@CalebPolen) July 21, 2018