Rooney breathes life into United

WAYNE ROONEY does not subscribe to the Dave Kitson theory about the FA Cup.

The Reading striker might not “care less” about the famous old silver pot, which is starting to lose some of its lustre, but the England international wants to see it glistening in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet in May.

Rooney might have far grander aspirations this season, in terms of the Champions League and the Premier League, but that was not entirely evident from his cameo performance at Villa Park, which helped extend Alex Ferguson’s incredible run of third round successes to 22 and brought a glint to the eye of Fabio Capello.