Wigan v Manchester Utd:  Alex Ferguson has called on Wayne Rooney to ignore critics of his recent poor form and focus on his football.

Without a competitive goal for England in well over two years and a Champions League strike for Manchester United in almost as long, Rooney has suddenly found himself the centre of unwanted attention.

While professional analysts ponder why the 20-year-old no longer seems to have the menace which made him one of the most feared young players in the world, the amateur pundits are lining up to have a go too.

A particularly disgraceful barrage of abuse from an England fan in Zagreb on Wednesday triggered a reaction from Rooney, outlining the frustration felt by the striker at his general ineffectiveness.

However, while Ferguson did not pass comment on Rooney's reaction, he does believe the forward - whose only competitive goals this term came in the opening day win over Fulham - cannot afford to let adverse comments affect his performance on the field.

"I know, and deep down every defender in the country knows, the lad will come to life, I have no fears about that at all," said Ferguson. "All he needs is games. And he also needs to focus on what we are telling him because young players can sometimes start to believe what other people are saying or writing about them, which can be very disruptive.

"We are discussing a 20-year-old boy and people are hoping I will say this is the end of him. But there is no problem for me. I know his heart is in the right place, the desire is there, the attitude is good. Why should we create problems for ourselves when all we need is patience?

"Wayne is intelligent enough to understand the mechanics of the business. It is just a matter of adjusting."

Although Rooney has now played eight senior games for club and country this season, Ferguson persists with the idea his forward is lacking match practice following a difficult pre-season, curtailed by his dismissal against Porto in Amsterdam.

Under no account, according to the United boss, should Rooney's commercial obligations be put forward as a reason for the current malaise.

"We pay close scrutiny to what Wayne does on the commercial side and we are not worried about it at all," he said.

"Apart from the odd event in London or abroad, everything he does takes place in Manchester."

Clearly, Rooney's place for today's trip to Wigan is not under threat as United look to cement their position at the Premiership summit.

However, should United suffer a similar abysmal defeat to the one England suffered in Croatia, Ferguson has advised his young star the reaction from the stands may be exactly the same. "Supporters will never change," he said.

"They get wrapped up in the emotions themselves because ideally, they want to be playing. I can understand that."

Meanwhile, player agent Charles Mambo has been suspended by the Football Association after completing their test "of good character and reputation".

For legal reasons, the FA have refused to divulge why Mambo has been suspended.

Meanwhile agent Charles Collymore has denied an FA charge of allegedly touting Luton Town player Enoch Showunmi to Millwall without the knowledge or consent of Luton and in breach of League rules. Collymore has requested a personal hearing.