Fergie lifted as Real loom

Manchester United 4 Norwich 0

Tomorrow’s Champions League last 16 second leg meeting with Real Madrid cast a huge shadow over proceedings, the visit of lowly Norwich to Old Trafford very much an appetiser before the main course.

The league fixture offered little more than an inconvenient distraction and it showed at times, both on the field and in the stands as United struggled for an hour or more to get out of second gear.

Kagawa, switched into a central rather than wide midfield role in the second half, eventually set in motion yet another routine victory for the Reds but it was the performance of Rooney, making his first start since the first Madrid game, that could have the greater significance as far as the rematch with Jose Mourinho is concerned.

Opinion has been divided this season as to whether Rooney has hit the dizzying standards he has previously set himself, although a return of 18 goals in 31 games for club and country suggests he is making a decent fist of so doing.

But Rooney himself seems content, both with his form, his development as a player and what the short-term future may hold.

“The age I’m at now is the time when most players start to peak — from now and across the next four or five years,” said Rooney.

“Hopefully that will be the case and the team will benefit from that. I haven’t played as many games as I normally would have at this point in the season and I do feel fresh and ready for that battle until the end of the season.

“With the way the manager rotates the team there will be a lot of players who are feeling fresh as well.

“Some teams tend to field the same team every week and when you get towards the end of the season you can lose the sharpness because of it. We should definitely be well prepared.

“It’s been a bit of a stop-start season for me with a couple of injuries which has been a bit disappointing. I just want to keep myself fit until the end of the season now and play a part in as many games as I can to help the team be successful.”

Leading scorer Robin van Persie endured what was, by his own form, a sub-par afternoon against Chris Hughton’s side — what are the odds of United scoring four times in a league game and the Dutchman failing to net? In his stead, Rooney orchestrated so much for United’s attack, dropping deep to collect, appearing in the middle of brisk passing moves to switch play or direct the right man towards goal. There were also a couple of powerful first-half shots that might have reaped reward plus a superb, last-minute 25-yard dipping shot that flew into the top of Mark Bunn’s goal.

“That will do him, his confidence, good,” said Ferguson of Rooney’s goal. “He has missed two or three games recently but he was back today, worked hard and scored a goal. That’s all we need.

“He needed a full game. He came on as sub last week at QPR but it’s always important for strikers to score.”

Kagawa’s first goal was fortunate, a miss-hit shot that keeper Bunn allowed to squirm through his body, but his second and third were magnificently-worked. Rooney had a hand in both, with telling passes that put defenders out of play, but both finishes were expertly taken by the Japanese midfielder, scorer of just two goals prior to this outing.

“Obviously what happened last year was a disappointment but as a footballer having the chance to win the Premier League should be enough to drive you on regardless,” said Rooney of United’s commanding lead at the top and their determination to hold onto it.

First, however, is the small matter of a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” said Ferguson. “The two greatest sides in the world. The atmosphere will be electric and it can’t be anything other than a good game.

“Emotions will be high but it will be a tremendous match. I think both teams will score and, hopefully, we score more than them.”