Rooney can be as good as Law, insists Jordan

DENIS LAW is still regarded as the king at Manchester United but in Wayne Rooney Joe Jordan reckons the Red Devils have the heir to the great Scot's throne.

Having spent four seasons as a United striker 25 years' ago, Jordan has some idea of the pressures on a rising star at Old Trafford.

After suffering at the feet of Rooney's immense talent in the Premiership on Saturday as his brave Portsmouth side were submerged by the €39 million teenager's brilliant double, Jordan has no doubt the 19-year-old has the qualities to etch his name alongside United's greats.

"When you look back at players who were capable of doing what Wayne Rooney has done at such a tender age Denis Law is the name that comes to mind," said Jordan.

"He wasn't even operating as a striker yesterday but he still got into the box and punished us."

In taking his recent goal tally to eight in 13 games, Rooney was not just punishing Portsmouth; he was also warning Chelsea they still have more work to do to make sure the championship finds its way to Stamford Bridge for the first time in 50 years.

Even Alex Ferguson said anything other than a home win would have ended United's challenge. That is precisely what looked like happening as Portsmouth dragged the game into its final 10 minutes still clinging to the point Gary O'Neil's excellent second-half leveller threatened to earn them. But just as heads in the stands were dropping, Rooney strode on to Ruud van Nistelrooy's pass, cut inside Dejan Stefanovic, powered into the box and delayed his shot so long Kostas Chalkias crumpled - allowing the England forward to roll his effort into the vacant goal.

"It was a great ball from Ruud. I got through and I couldn't miss," was Rooney's understated assessment.

Jordan offered another opinion. "When the ball was played through Rooney probably had about three decisions to make," he said.

"He knew instinctively what he was going to do, and that is why he ended up rolling the ball into the net. You can't blame the keeper. He was out-manoeuvred and out-thought. That is what a player of Wayne Rooney's quality can do."

Jordan may be wearing his red-tinted glasses when he states his belief that United can still win the title, but 14 wins in 17 games since the sorry defeat at Portsmouth in October seem to have fuelled confidence.

It is also true a win at Crystal Palace next Saturday will cut Chelsea's lead to three points - before Jose Mourinho's men tackle Norwich a couple of hours later. Chelsea will have a couple of games in hand by then. But the erosion of their advantage might yet induce some nerves at Stamford Bridge.

After making five changes to the side beaten by AC Milan in midweek, Ferguson is promising a few more for the Selhurst Park trip. Gary Neville seems unlikely to be risked after a bruising encounter with Portsmouth. Of more major significance will be Ferguson's goalkeeping selection.

The United boss has finally said Roy Carroll made a major blunder when against AC Milan and indications are Carroll will still be frozen out for next Tuesday's trip to the San Siro.