Football fans know exactly how One Directioners are feeling now Zayn Malik is leaving the band – just ask Liverpool supporters how they felt when they heard Steven Gerrard was leaving.

But sports fans are also solutions people, they don’t like to sit around and mope for long – so here are some suggestions of some people they’ve come up with who could step into the shoes of Mr Malik.

1. Wayne Rooney

Manchester United striker Rooney’s more of an Ed Sheeran fan than a Directioner, but he’s used to being in the spotlight and he can’t resist a sing-song when someone puts a mic in his hand.

2. Kevin Pietersen

Nobody likes attention more than Pietersen, so he’d be right at home in the world’s biggest band. True, he’s just signed a contract with Surrey – but he had one of those with Sunrisers Hyderabad and that didn’t stop him.

3. Mario Balotelli

Seriously, who would like to see Super Mario in 1D? The Liverpool bench warmer’s got precious little else to do at the moment.

4. Alan Curbishley

“Alan Curbishley puts name forward for [insert literally any job here]” tweet. Standard.

5. Dion Dublin

Former Coventry striker Dublin has just signed up to be a host of Homes Under The Hammer. No, really. He might be kicking himself now an opening has come up in the music world – he invented an instrument after all, so who could be better qualified?

6. Harry Kane

He can pretty much do no wrong at the moment – he’d kill it as a member of a boy band. After all, he has great hair. The only problem is: is there room in 1D for two Harrys?

7. Steve Walsh

A retired rugby referee may not seem like the obvious choice to replace a member of the world’s biggest boy band, but there’s a logic to it. Like Zayn, he has a tattoo and… no, that’s all we’ve got.

8. Douglas

Obviously, if Barcelona defender Douglas were to joing 1D he’d be known as Dougie – that’s a tried and tested boy band name.

9. Misbah-ul-Haq

Being captain of Pakistan is one of the few roles that probably puts you under more scrutiny than being in 1D. Joining the band would be like a holiday for the recently retired ODI skipper.

10. Petr Cech

Because if there’s one thing One Direction need, it’s more drum solos. The departing Chelsea keeper could also help them target the lucrative Czech market. Win-win.