Louis van Gaal has told Wayne Rooney he will have to get used to life in midfield because it is in Manchester United's best interests.
The England captain spent much of the 3-1 win over Burnley playing as a holding midfielder, with Michael Carrick already sidelined and Daley Blind coming off injured.
Rooney, who is the third highest goalscorer in United's history with 224 over the past 11 years, has not started as a striker for two months and is yet to record a shot on target in the league in 2015.
But Van Gaal accepts his skipper is at his best up front, but said he was happy the 29-year-old showed his assurance in a deeper role as he paired Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie in attack against Burnley.
"Rooney was one of the players who showed the best composure today," said Van Gaal in his news conference.
"You can put every week these questions but I have to decide. You can ask me every week and I have to compare with Falcao and Van Persie, [James] Wilson and Rooney because these were the strikers for me.
"I have to look for the better balance and I think until now because of Rooney we have a better balance in midfield and I was very pleased how he replaced Daley Blind in the No. 6 position [defensive midfield].
"He showed composure and of course he was also today the Rooney that I want to see, but he has showed that he can play in every position.
"But maybe he can better play in a strikers position, but then I have a problem in midfield and then you are asking another question."