Man Utd vs. Wigan: Community Shield Overshadowed by Wayne Rooney Saga

The Community Shield and the Charity Shield were previously welcomed with open arms by football supporters across England as the opening salvo of the new season.

One week before the English top flight opened its doors, the league champions would take on the FA Cup winners in a Super Cup challenge. It is true that these games would never feature largely on a player's CV, but its mere presence was a starting point for fans, playing an integral role in the calendar.

As Bleacher Report writer Ryan Bailey pointed out on Friday, the game has lost some of its zeal as the Premier League behemoth has dwarfed all in its path. This year should have been different, though.

Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City with their FA Cup triumph in May, where Ben Watson scored the only goal of the final in the closing stages. The sheen was taken off the Latics' victory by their subsequent relegation from the top flight with defeat at Arsenal just days later, but even that could not disguise the team's achievement under Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard has, of course, now moved on to Everton, with Owen Coyle succeeding him at the DW Stadium with his eye on an immediate return to the Premier League. There should also have been interest on the Manchester United dugout with David Moyes taking over for Sir Alex Ferguson at the United helm.

But only one name will truly resonate ahead of the season's annual curtain-raiser: Wayne Rooney.

The seemingly unrelenting saga over the United striker's future appears to be heading for the wire at the close of the transfer window on Sept. 2. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has not hidden his interest in the England international, despite Moyes and United claiming the 27-year-old is not for sale.

Now we have the question of whether Rooney will actually be considered for the Wembley showpiece after Moyes claimed injury had prevented him playing in a number of preseason friendlies, including the club tour of the Far East and Australia.

According to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian, the striker will be available for selection to face Wigan, but the dilemma over whether to choose him rests with Moyes.

England manager Roy Hodgson will be at pains not to cause a rift between him and Moyes over Rooney's inclusion in the squad to face Scotland. But that particular horse had bolted the moment Rooney took to his official Facebook account to inform the world of his gratitude toward the former Fulham and Liverpool boss.

"

Can't wait to join up with the England squad and hopefully play in a competitive match, they always are against Scotland. Big thanks to Roy Hodgson for selecting me and showing his faith and support, appreciate it

"

We now live in a world where Rooney simply getting into his car can generate the same level of headlines as Tottenham breaking their club-record transfer fee in the world of rolling sports news. And David Maddock of the Daily Mirror was one of a number of journalists to pounce on the statement, which brings us back to the Community Shield on Sunday. 

The traditional season-opener on Sunday will now be played out to a background mantra featuring Rooney, no matter whether he plays or not.

The uncertainty over the forward's future will be the subject of conversation before the game and throughout the 90 minutes of commentary, and there is no doubt where the questioning of Moyes after the game will be heading.

Amid all of this, Wigan and Coyle are likely to be forgotten bit parts in the Rooney Roadshow, which is a shame on another potential afternoon of surprises for the Latics.

Coyle and chairman Dave Whelan have been busy in the transfer market this summer and are one of the favourites to win the Championship this season. No matter what the outcome, the focus will turn to whether Rooney's position held sway in the final reckoning. 

Perhaps the only winners here are the Community Shield sponsors, McDonald's. The interest generated by the Rooney effect will surely provide further mentions of the fast-food chain's brand.

It appears Facebook may have missed a trick here.