Wayne Rooney's son Kai shares devastated message - 'Life can't get worse'

Wayne Rooney's 15-year-old son Kai has declared 'life can't get worse' after sustaining a painful injury whilst featuring for Manchester United's academy. Rooney, 35, claimed countless honours at Old Trafford and is eager for his eldest offspring to emulate his achievements.

Prior to this setback, Kai had been experiencing a meteoric rise at Rooney's former club. He had recently earned selection for the United Under-19s outfit, where he competed alongside fellow prospects four years his senior.

His promotion was subsequently accompanied by a spectacular strike he netted for the Under-18s, which witnessed him unleash a left-footed volley into the top corner. Disappointingly, any positive progress he has accumulated will need to be rebuilt as he faces a spell on the treatment table.

Kai shared a mirror selfie displaying the protective boot adorning his right foot. In a caption accompanying the image, he penned: "Life can't get worse" alongside a crying emoji.

The extent of his injury or the duration it will prevent him from playing remains uncertain.

Nevertheless, the sentiment in his message suggests it may be a considerable time before he represents United again.

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Whilst he has yet to capture attention in the same manner as his legendary father, there has been substantial excitement surrounding Kai.

The youngster usually plays in a central position for United, reminiscent of his father's role, but has also shown prowess in wider areas. His performance for the Red Devils in the Super Cup NI in Northern Ireland earlier this summer was particularly noteworthy.

Wayne Rooney himself shone in a similar tournament during his early days at Everton. He was seen cheering on his son's performances alongside wife Coleen and their youngest sons Kit and Cass.

When asked about the influence he has had on Kai's budding football career, the former England captain revealed that he prefers to let his son play his own game rather than inundating him with advice.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Rooney said: "I just let him play. I think they started the competition well, they won 3-0, he scored the penalty and got an assist. So I think he started OK. He just plays and that's all he's done during his time playing.

"I think it's very unfair for anyone to expect him to go and do all kinds. He's just playing, he's a 15-year-old boy playing his football, enjoying it. Of course he gets different attention to a lot of his team-mates but I think he handles that really well.

"He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand-off approach. I speak to him, but for me it's all about his mentality and his mindset, to make sure he keeps enjoying it - that's the main thing for me."

Kai has been a part of the United academy since he was 11 years old. He joined the Red Devils' youth system in 2020.