Rooney could retire when he's 31 or 32... his peak may have been at 26, warns former Man United team-mate Scholes

Paul Scholes believes Wayne Rooney could retire from football by the time he's 32 due to the amount of football's he's played in his career.

Rooney made his professional debut in 2003 as a 16-year-old for boyhood club Everton and Scholes thinks his former Manchester United team-mate may hang up his boots in his early thirties due to the physical demand of the game.

Reached his peak? Paul Scholes (left) believes Wayne Rooney (right) could retire from football when he's 32

In his first column for Paddy Power, Scholes said: 'Wayne might be a player who’d retire come 31 or 32, given the amount of football he’s played.

'Wayne’s peak may have been a lot younger than what we’d expect of footballers traditionally. Age 28 or 29 has been the normal "peak". With Wayne, it could have been when he scored 27 league goals in 2011-12 when he 26.

'He might be a player who’d retire come 31 or 32, given the amount of football he’s played.

'Ryan Giggs has been on the go for ages, but he adjusted his position. Can Wayne do the same? I don’t think Wayne will be able to play centre forward until he’s 34 or 35.'

Remember the name: Rooney (left) made his debut for boyhood club Everton at the age of 16 in 2003

United have been craving a creative midfielder since Scholes' retirement at the end of the 2012-13 season as the deposed Premier League champions finished seventh at the end of this campaign.

The Red Devils have been heavily linked with a bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos; but under former Old Trafford boss David Moyes, Rooney dropped back into this role on frequent occasions - a position Scholes feels the England international could make his own in the future.

Tucked away: Rooney (left) scored 17 league goals this season for United as the club finished seventh

'He could play centre midfield, possibly, into his mid-thirties. He’s got all the ability to take over my old position at Manchester United,' he added.

'He has played some games there, but has never gone on an uninterrupted run. Whether he has the discipline to do it, right now I’m not sure.'

Should he retire by the age of 32, his last games could be for England potentially at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.