Rooney inthe mood for new season

Urawa Red Diamonds 0 Manchester United 2

After scoring 17 times in his first season at Manchester United, the 19-year-old confirmed his well-being with a brace in the final game of his club’s Far East tour.

While his first effort was fairly routine, the second was sensational, winning possession, taking a return pass, sidestepping his way past three defenders before finding the net with a sublime chip which keeper Ryota Tsuzuki had no chance of keeping out. And if Rooney is to be believed, there will be many more to follow over the next nine months as, for the first time in his fledgling career, the 19-year-old feels sharp.

“I have had a solid pre-season behind me, which is something I haven’t had for two years now,” he said.

So amazing was Rooney’s second effort that the entire United bench rose as a man to applaud it. His team-mates on the pitch at Saitama Stadium were equally in awe, although, as Darren Fletcher pointed out, it is something they are getting used to.

“We shouldn’t really be surprised by Wayne doing something like that, he does it day in, day out in training,” said Fletcher.

Rooney’s contribution was the clear highlight of an otherwise largely forgettable affair which once more ended with Rio Ferdinand being subjected to cat-calls from United fans.

After being named as a substitute, Ferdinand was spared the humiliation of a having to make a public entrance by Alex Ferguson.

The United boss did state long before his team headed out to Asia that Ferdinand’s contract wrangle could swamp United’s entire pre-season programme. That has not quite happened, but there must be worries about the reception their record signing gets when United open the new campaign on home soil against either Debrecen or Hajduk Split in the Champions League qualifier on August 9.

By that point, Ferguson will hope Ruud van Nistelrooy will have relaxed. The prolific Dutchman missed the encounter with a slight stomach bug but appeared to be at odds with the world in his previous three games, getting involved in spats with opponents in the first two, then having a heated argument with Ferdinand against Kashima Antlers.

Renewed talk of a United move for Michael Owen may not help his mood, even though the former PSV Eindhoven forward is unlikely to be the striker ditched if Ferguson attempts to lure the England international back to the Premiership from Real Madrid.

Speculation also continues to surround the short-term future of Bayern Munich’s Michael Ballack. The 28-year-old will be available on a Bosman free transfer in 12 months’ time, but with Roy Keane’s career nearing its conclusion, a move for Ballack cannot be ruled out. Ferguson admitted he could make another signing before the transfer window slams shut on August 31.