Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has criticised the performances of Wayne Rooney

Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has launched an astonishing attack on club captain Wayne Rooney, branding the striker 'awful' and calling for him to be dropped after the arrival of Radamel Falcao.

The prolific Colombian has arrived at Old Trafford on a season-long loan deal and Parker, who made over 100 appearances for the Red Devils between 1991 and 1996, believes that should spell the end of Rooney's time in Louis van Gaal's first team.

The 50-year-old also blasted Rooney's performance in Saturday's lacklustre 0-0 draw with Burnley and questioned why he earns a reported £300,000-a-week at United.

After discussing Robin van Persie's disappointing display at Turf Moor in his Yahoo! Sport blog, Parker wrote: 'As for Wayne Rooney, he's been awful. There he was at Burnley this weekend, supposedly captaining the team - but I saw a player interested only in himself, doing nothing to try and lift his game or inspire his team-mates. 

'The only thing in any way remarkable about his performance is that he collects £300,000 a week to play that badly.'

The loan deal for Falcao has left many pundits coming to the conclusion that Juan Mata will drop to bench, leaving Rooney to play as a No 10 and Van Persie up-front with the club's latest signing. But Parker thinks otherwise.

New boy: Parker believes Rooney should be dropped and Radamel Falcao (pictured) should start for United