Why does Wayne Rooney have plastic tubes up his nose? Man Utd legend explains after breaking nose twice | Football News
Wayne Rooney has revealed he underwent surgery to repair damage from two broken noses suffered during his playing career, explaining why he appeared with two plastic tubes in his nostrils during an appearance on Disney+’s Stick to United with Mark Goldbridge.The 40-year-old Manchester United and England legend said he had put the operation off for years before deciding this summer to have the procedure after the World Cup. At the time of the recording, Rooney was around a week removed from the surgery and said the tubes were affecting his voice and were “a little bit uncomfortable”.
Rooney broke his nose twice during his playing career
The first injury came while Rooney was playing for Manchester United against Preston North End in the FA Cup in 2015. United won 3-1 at Deepdale, with Rooney remembering the match for both the injury and what he jokingly described as “a bit of a dive” that won his side a penalty.Rooney also recalled that former United team-mate Marouane Fellaini broke his nose during the same match. Fellaini missed the following games, while Rooney said he did not miss any matches.The second break came three years later during Rooney’s time with DC United. In July 2018, he suffered the injury during a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids, in the same match in which he scored his first goal for the MLS club after moving to the United States from Everton.The incident happened when Colorado player Niki Jackson was pushed by a team-mate and collided with Rooney, with the back of Jackson’s head striking Rooney in the nose. Rooney was left with blood streaming down his face and later developed a black eye as he recovered.
Why did Rooney need surgery years later?
Rooney said he knew he needed surgery after breaking his nose but repeatedly postponed it.“I needed surgery, but I’ve never had it. Put it off,” he said during Stick to United. “Then this summer I thought ‘Get the World Cup out of the way, and I’ll get it done.’ So [I] had it done last week. Went well, but these tubes were horrible.”The Daily Mail reported that the operation was intended to repair long-term damage caused by the two fractures. Repeated injuries to the nose can damage the nasal septum and cartilage and can affect breathing, although Rooney himself did not specifically describe the extent of any breathing problems in the interview.The plastic tubes were placed inside his nostrils during the recovery period. Rooney explained that the surgical area had been stitched underneath his nostrils and that the tubes were due to be removed soon.“It’s actually really lucky I’ve got no black eyes, but I’ve still got two plastic tubes up my nose, which are coming out very soon,” Rooney said. “I can’t wait for them to come out.He then showed Goldbridge the area beneath his nose and added: “So, they’ve cut [under my nostrils]… So, that’s all stitched – a little bit uncomfortable.”Rooney said the procedure itself had gone well, even if the temporary tubes had made the aftermath particularly unpleasant.
