United’s only other senior strikers are Javier Hernandez and James Wilson, putting pressure on Rooney to score 20 Premier League goals in a season for only the third time in his career.
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After Louis van Gaal discarded strike duo Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao from his squad, Rooney was made into the N0.1 striker at the club, something many fans and pundits had called for extensively last season.
Rooney has gone nine competitive club games for Manchester United without finding the net – six last season and three this campaign – prompting suggestions he has lost his spark in front of goal.
“I want to kiss him tonight because when you score two goals and have an assist then normally in the world you are the hero“.
“Some take a few games to get going because they may have put on a few pounds over the summer and I’d probably put Wayne in that category”. My mind’s clear and I know how to play the role.
“It’s his team now, his players, and if the new signings settle quickly, I think it’s possible”, the Dutch player concluded.
Memphis Depay fired Manchester United to the brink of the Champions Leagu e – with a kiss from boss Louis van Gaal his reward.
But United captain Rooney is confident of turning things around and said: “I’m an honest guy”.
“My worry is that we have to dominate the opponent and we did it today, we did it against Aston Villa, Tottenham and [Club] Brugge“.
Not surprisingly, the 29-year-old is of the opinion that there is no reason for concern, with the goals sure to come. Fortunately I had a much better game [against Club Brugge], I could have got a goal or two but that’s football.
The former Bayern Munich man is clearly well aware of the difficulties of winning the Premier League and also admits there is a lot of work for United to do, but you would have to argue that the early signs are good. “It was a great night for us, obviously, getting the victory and hopefully we’ll kick on from there”, he said.
Two consecutive 1-0 wins to get the season under way, albeit in unspectacular fashion, will have pleased van Gaal.
Despite Rooney’s poor form, United have won the two league games and the first leg of Champions League play-offs against Brugge.
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“I’ve always enjoyed playing against Newcastle, so hopefully on Saturday I can open my scoring”.
