Rooney brings in the crowds and nets first goal since April

Macclesfield Town 1 Manchester United 2

WAYNE ROONEY provided debt-ridden Macclesfield with a £25,000 windfall last night and cashed in himself with his first goal since April.

Rooney’s mere presence in a largely youthful Manchester United line-up ensured there was not a spare seat to be had at the humble League Two ground.

And he left the fans with a memory to savour during his hour-long appearance, flicking Paul McShane’s shot into the bottom corner with an inspired touch from his right heel.

It was his first goal since netting a double at Tottenham and put United on the road to victory.as Frazier Campbell struck the winner after Danny Swailes had levelled.

And, with Ruud van Nistelrooy now at Real Madrid, Rooney’s performance suggested he is ready to lead United’s forward assault in the new Premiership campaign.

Thirty days exactly since he trooped off distraught after his red card quarter-final misery in Gelsenkirchen, the 20-year-old was handed the honour of leading United for the first time despite the presence of Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar in the visitors’ starting line-up.

The move hardly suggested there was any lingering discontent for either Rooney or boss Alex Ferguson over the ultra-cautious stance United adopted over his participation in the World Cup.

Partnering Giuseppe Rossi up front, Rooney was at the heart of most decent United attacking moves. Surprisingly kept on by Ferguson after the break, Rooney took only a minute of the second period to open his account.

With Van der Sar replaced at half-time, it left an inexperienced United side to see out the final half hour, which they achieved in the best manner possible, Campbell firing home 17 minutes from time to give the visitors victory.

The win did come at a price for United, with midfield duo David Jones and Eagles both having to be helped off with arm and leg injuries respectively.