Alan Curbishley believes Wayne Rooney would benefit from adding someone of his experience to the Birmingham City coaching staff.
Rooney has four coaches working underneath him at St Andrew’s. Fellow Premier League greats Ashley Cole and John O’Shea are learning their trade alongside more experienced coaches Carl Robinson and Pete Shuttleworth, both of whom followed Rooney to Birmingham from DC United.
However, former Charlton and West Ham boss Curbishley reckons Rooney, 38, needs some additional experience to assist him. Curbishley, 66, said: “I don't know who his staff is, but I'm saying he could benefit from someone like me - I'm not advocating myself - but someone around him who's senior that's been through it and that saying, 'What you're doing on the pitch is good and that will see you through, don't start worrying about things you can't do anything about.’”
Curbishley, who was a popular figure during his four-year playing career at St Andrew’s, has been out of work since leaving Fulham in 2015. He believes the manner of John Eustace's departure has added to Rooney’s problems after a winless first five matches.
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Speaking to Free Bets UK, Curbishley added: “New owners went into Birmingham, they've put their money in there and they've made the decision. I don't think it was overly favourable, because of what John had done.
“I think it's put Wayne under a bit of pressure. Perhaps it still has. He's got to win through now. When the fans realise a manager is going to get let go, they're ready for it. I think this was a bit of a shock - most of the Birmingham fans were expecting the new owners to start backing John Eustace.
“So, I thought Wayne would have understood that, 'Oh I'm coming into a club where I'm not being that welcomed… I've got to win them over'. And that's what he's got to do.”
