After sex scandal, Rooney admits he’s hurting

LONDON (AP)—Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said he is hurting and is “only a human being” in his first comments since being accused of cheating on his then-pregnant wife with a prostitute.

Rooney has struggled to make an impact for United since the alleged infidelities emerged in newspapers last month and he has failed to score for the Premier League club from open play all season.

Asked if the sex scandal has affected his form, Rooney told Sky Sports: “I can’t say yes and I can’t say no because obviously it has been a hard time. I just need to try to get back to doing what I do best and playing football the way I can do.

“I’m only a human being—I hurt as well, but I need to get through this and back playing football the way I know I can do and I’m sure everything else will settle down after that.”

United manager Alex Ferguson dropped Rooney when the allegations first emerged, claiming that he was protecting his England forward from fan-abuse at former club Everton.

Ferguson ruled the 24-year-old Rooney out of Wednesday’s Champions League match and Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland in the Premier League due to an ankle injury despite the player himself insisting he will be “100 percent” fit to play for England on Oct. 12.

“Obviously there are people around you who try to help you and want you to do well,” Rooney said. “But at the end of the day it comes down to yourself.”