Tottenham Hotspur are in a relegation battle, said former England captain Wayne Rooney.

A 2-0 defeat by Manchester United stretched their winless Premier League run to seven games to leave Thomas Frank’s side 15th in the table and only six points above the relegation zone.

Spurs finished 17th last season leading to the dismissal of manager Ange Postecoglou, even after winning the Europa League.

“You’d have to say they are in a relegation battle with their current form,” said the ex-United striker on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“West Ham have been in form, Nottingham Forest pick up results here and there.

“You can’t think that they’re not in a relegation battle where they are.

Captain Cristian Romero was sent off in the first half at Old Trafford for a late lunge on Casemiro, his sixth dismissal in a Spurs shirt.

“I can see why it’s been given but I think it’s a little bit harsh,” said Rooney.

“Sometimes you lose your head at times. And I think he’s done that throughout his time at Tottenham.”

It came days after Romero’s social media post which seemed to criticise the people who run the club when he said it was “disgraceful” they only had 11 fit players for a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

“What doesn’t help is comments in the week before about the lack of players Tottenham have,” added Rooney.

“He clearly speaks his mind as well. But unfortunately, you’ve got to go and back that up with performances when you’re vocal like that – and I don’t think he’s done that. All that’s going to do is bring more pressure on Thomas Frank.”

Rooney has sympathy for Frank, who managed Brentford for seven years before moving across London last summer to replace Postecoglou.

“I feel for Thomas Frank because he looks tired, he looks like he’s aged 10 years,” he said.

“That’s what that Tottenham job has done to him in a short period of time. I hope they stick with him because he’s fantastic manager, but I think it’s going be very difficult for them to do that.

“And you don’t need your captain going out getting sent off on a regular basis or being as vocal as he was this week.”

Snooker legend and BBC commentator John Virgo has died, aged 79.

Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career, winning the UK Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1979.

He is perhaps best known for his post-playing career, presenting popular snooker TV show Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.

Following his retirement from playing in 1994, Virgo became a BBC commentator.

His last commentary for the BBC came 17 days ago when Kyren Wilson beat John Higgins in the Masters final.

Virgo was a popular commentator, with his famous “where’s the cue ball going?” catchphrase when a player was close to committing a foul.

Players and officials held a minute’s silence at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan said: “Finished my match to get the news that JV has passed away.

“Such a great mate who I loved spending time with. Absolutely gutted.”

Four-time world champion Mark Selby said: “So sad to hear the news of the passing of John Virgo! Such a great guy and a huge character! He will be greatly missed! RIP JV.”

Former world champion Shaun Murphy, who worked alongside Virgo for the BBC, said: “I first met John in 1994, filming Junior Big Break. He then went on to become a friend and colleague.

“I learned so much from him whilst sharing a commentary box. The voice of snooker will be sadly missed.”

Virgo regularly took part in exhibition matches, playing trick shots and performing impressions of other players.

Former world champion Neil Robertson said: “He was a great character and an amazing pundit and commentator.

“I had the pleasure of sharing the booth with him during the World Championship a couple of years ago in which I got a huge appreciation for how good he was.”

A World Snooker statement read: “Everyone at the World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo.”

Former world number three Neal Foulds said: “Terribly sad news that we have lost one of the greats of snooker in John Virgo.

“JV was incredibly generous, kind and funny. He was also a wonderful player and commentator. Thanks for all the great memories JV.”

Virgo, who was born in Salford in 1946, is survived by wife Rosie and children Gary and Brooke-Leah.

John was a tremendous competitor and a very good break-builder – brilliant among the pink and black. He knew the game inside and out and backwards.

Then he transcended the sport and went into the commentary box. He did Big Break with Jim Davidson, so he became a household name to everybody.

It was that voice which was very different to everyone else and made him stand out.

You could have a right laugh with him – he loved a joke.

He had a really good act and he did impersonations of Alex Higgins, Terry Griffiths, Cliff Thorburn – and they all loved it.

It was unusual for someone to do that at the end of an exhibition, but he was absolutely brilliant at it.

I’m sure when we give him a tribute at the Crucible [for the World Championship in April] they will show his impressive routine, which is just hilarious.

He was a brilliant character.

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has opened up on how his transfer to Manchester United failed to materialize.

Recall that the former midfielder had agreed to a pre-contract deal with the Red Devils, which would have seen him sign for the club after turning 18.

However, Mikel, in a chat, stated that a Premier League rule that states that a player must have played 75% for his country’s senior national team prevented the Red Devils from signing him.

“Fergie loved me. He would always pair me with Roy Keane because he thought Keane would protect me from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who were always tackling people in training.

“At the time, the rule required players to have represented their national team in at least 75% of matches before being eligible to sign.

“The strategy was to get me in and out before I turned 18,” Mikel explained, referring to the club’s approach to signing young talents, “but that wasn’t possible in my case.”

Mikel would finally join the Blues aged 19 in 2006, going on to spend almost 11 years with the club.

During that time, he made 372 appearances and scored six goals from midfield.