Wayne Rooney may play for England but he was proud to have his son Kai show off his Irish roots for St Patrick’s Day.

The Manchester United striker, who could have played for Ireland, had to skip the festivities ahead of United’s game at Wolves.

But son Kai, whose uncle John is with the Red Bulls in the MLS, proudly showed off his replica Republic of Ireland kit in honor of the occasion.

Both Rooney and his wife Colleen have strong Irish ties and the proud mum picked up the Irish team kit on a visit to Dublin last week.

In town to promote her new range of bikinis, Colleen specifically bought the jersey that Giovanni Trapattoni’s Irish team will wear for the European Championships this summer.

She even posted the photo of Kai on Twitter in the full football kit to be worn by Robbie Keane and his team-mates in June.

Colleen tweeted: ‘Happy St Patrick’s Day!!!! Top of the morning to ya!!!’

Colleen’s family are McLoughlins from Mayo and mum Colette joined her in Dublin last week when they enjoyed a pint of Guinness - she also tweeted photos of herself and her mum drinking the pint.

A devout Catholic, Coleen has accompanied her parents on trips to Lourdes with her younger sister Rosie who has Rett syndrome.