Berbatov Takes Centre Stage As England and United Mourn Wayne Rooney Injury

As Wayne Rooney was left sprawled on the turf at the Allianz Arena, the whole of England gasped with bated breath, fearing the worst.

At no point in recent memory has an athlete's health been inextricably tied to the destiny of a team chasing the world's greatest honour.

It also reveals just how much time we invest in our favourite players. They represent our hopes of achieving the impossible, of becoming the best they can possibly be.

In Rooney, an entire nation's desire for untold glory rests. The World Cup is the holy grail, an entity that has escaped the purview of many, only obtainable to the most deserving and worthy that seek it. 

It is rather fitting that we place so much of our hope and support in such a figure. Rooney symbolises the rags to riches story that envelops one's individual conscious, making us believe that Cinderella tales may actually come true.

He embodies the raw aggression that all people need if they are to succeed in their respective pursuits. His willingness to work hard at his craft and remain true to his Croxeth roots is much to be admired.

This reverence of Rooney is not solely held by England supporters.

Rooney's participation in the World Cup may be imperative to England's chances of glory, but his sprained ankle may have far greater implications for Manchester United.

Their ability to retain the Premier League title as well as secure their third successive Champions League final appearance was in the hands of their brave talisman. Now it is now in serious jeopardy.

Bayern Munich boss Louis Van Gaal echoed the sentiments of United supporters when he noted that "Rooney is very important for Manchester United. ..He is their most important player and if you look at the statistics, then you see that Rooney has scored 31 goals."

Van Gaal may have slightly understated Rooney's achievements this season (Rooney has actually recorded 34 goals in all competitions) but he still recognises why many consider Rooney as an integral influence within the United dressing room.

Van Gaal's assessment merely feeds the frenzy that surrounds Rooney. Unlike England, Sir Alex Ferguson's side are not a one-man team. One only need look at the gusty masterclass produced by United to see off a spirited Bolton team to realise that Sir Alex has plenty of options to overcome this latest setback.

For United fans who idolise Rooney, it is rather ironic that the centre stage be occupied by a man as maligned as Dimitar Berbatov, whose has done very little to curry favour from fans and neutrals alike.

Those who marvel at Rooney's determination to fight for the cause and demonstrate a lion-hearted bravery clearly balk at the subdued Bulgarian, whose own lazy brand of football often seems dispirited and lethargic, especially when United need an impetus of urgency and directness.

This, however, is a disservice to Berbatov.

While he may frustrate spectators who desire expediency and dedication, Berbatov's languid style hides his obvious talents in out-muscling opposing defenders and his abundant intelligence and awareness of others that is critical in developing attacking moves and sadly, a rare trait in professional football.

Sir Alex Ferguson, like United's supporters must place their faith in the former Spurs striker. His performance against Bolton, in which he was able to form an effective combination with the newly-improved Nani, indicated his value to the team.

But the onus is on Berbatov. If United are to succeed in overcoming the challenge of Chelsea and Arsenal, Berbatov needs to be able to benefit from the individual influences of Nani, Giggs and Valencia and improve his woeful goal tally this season.

His mission begins this Saturday against a rejuvenated Chelsea coming off of two impressive victories over Aston Villa and Portsmouth, laying both to the sword in convincing fashion as they look to recover from recent setbacks in both the league and in Europe.

Berbatov may not evoke any overriding feelings of patriotic loyalty or inspire fans to follow their own paths to riches as Rooney does, but he is now the man to take centre stage in United's title challenge. He alone will be forced to lead United to victory in the face of unwanted adversity. Whether he is successful in this endeavour remains to be seen.