Kagawa pulls the strings to leave Rooney in the shade.
Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted at Wayne Rooney falling further down the -pecking order at Manchester United by claiming that Shinji Kagawa's -performances are highlighting the England forward's loss of form.
Rooney, who will make his 400th appearance for United if selected against Aston Villa on Monday, appeared disconsolate when substituted in favour of Ryan Giggs in the 71st minute of the 2-2 draw at West Ham on Wednesday.
It was the ninth time in 29 starts that Rooney had been substituted this season and, coming just a week after he was replaced in the closing stages of the Old Trafford defeat against Manchester City, it appears the 27-year-old is becoming increasingly expendable.
He has lost his position as first-choice striker to Robin van Persie and now Ferguson's praise of Japan midfielder Kagawa - a pounds 17?million arrival from Borussia Dortmund last summer - suggests that Rooney is battling to lay claim to the playmaker role in front of midfield.
"Shinji is doing very well for us now," Ferguson said. "He has fantastic composure on the ball and always seems to pick the more sensible pass. He was terrific for the first goal [at West Ham], showing the composure to take the player on in a tight area and roll the ball in to Antonio Valencia. As far as taking Wayne off on Wednesday, it was simple. He wasn't playing as well as Shinji and we wanted to get that goal.
"There have been so many games where Wayne Rooney has been better than most players, but on the night, Shinji was playing so well." Ferguson did substitute Kagawa shortly after Van Persie equalised. "The ironic thing was when we were chasing a goal, I decided to put Chicharito on. Shinji made our -second goal, but I'd already made the decision and given the fourth official the card. If I'd changed my decision, I think we would have won the game because Shinji was doing really well."
Despite Kagawa's recent return to form following a three-month lay-off with a knee injury, Ferguson refused to add weight to speculation linking Rooney with a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The United manager admitted he had no news on a possible contract extension for Rooney, but played down the prospect of him leaving for Paris. "I don't think there is anything in that at all," Ferguson said.
United face Villa without Ashley Young following confirmation that the England winger will miss the rest of the season, and potentially the international friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil, with a knee injury sustained against City on April 8.
Nemanja Vidic is also battling to overcome a facial injury suffered in a challenge with Andy Carroll against West Ham - a game that Ferguson described as a "war-zone".
"Vida has a beautiful bruise on his cheekbone and we're coming out of that war-zone happy to see no one seriously injured," the manager said.
"The team was fantastic in terms of standing up to it. It was the type of game you get with Big Sam's teams. We dealt with it well and have to be satisfied with coming back twice to get a point."
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