Carrick: Roo can keep on scoring

MICHAEL CARRICK is tipping Wayne Rooney to maintain his present blistering form right through until the World Cup.

Rooney took his Manchester United goal tally to 32 this season with a double in Sunday’s defeat of Fulham at Old Trafford. The 24-year-old has now scored just 10 fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo managed two years ago and a staggering 16 times in his last 11 games, a run that has helped steer United back to the top of the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will discover their next opponents on Friday.

Almost inevitably, those of a less positive persuasion are questioning whether Rooney can keep it up, not just until after United’s campaign is over – May 22 if they reach the Champions League final – but July 11, given that is when England are hoping to play in the World Cup final.