Rooney back with a bang

Man United 2 Crystal Palace 0

But, while Young stole the post-match headlines for largely the wrong reasons, it was the performance of Rooney, coming back from an horrendous facial wound one week ahead of schedule, that will have offered new manager David Moyes the most satisfaction from an underwhelming display.

Rooney was not expected to return until this weekend’s Manchester derby after colliding with team-mate Phil Jones’s boot in training just over two weeks ago but, thanks to a facial guard that Moyes cheekily suggested would have been more fitting on a sumo wrestler, the England centre-forward put in a solid display.

He was one of the few United stars to live up to his reputation and his 80th minute free-kick was a magnificent example of what the forward can produce when he — or, more accurately, his advisers — are not muttering about transfers away from Old Trafford.

“It has been so stop-start through pre-season, to get him to this situation I think that for him was a big moment,” said Moyes. “It was a great free kick as well.

“He has got himself in a good physical condition, albeit he lacks match practice.

“I think the crowd have given him a great lift and hopefully he can repay them with plenty of goals.”

Without Rooney’s contribution, this would have been a toothless performance. The fact that two debutant substitutes — Marouane Fellaini and teenage winger Adnan Januzaj — brought about such a huge improvement to United’s lacklustre play in the final half hour was a surefire indication that United are still to find their rhythm under new management.

It also helps explain why Moyes appears keen to utilise Rooney in a more advanced role, practically playing alongside Robin van Persie against Palace, instead of persisting with the forward in deeper, or even wider, positions.

“We will try and get him up there,” said Moyes. “But Wayne’s game is a little bit more. He has developed into one of those centre forwards who drops into spaces to pick the ball up.

“I can only see Wayne playing up top and playing as a forward for us. To be successful you need to have people who can score you 20 goals. I am hoping with Robin and Wayne you have two there who you would say they have that in them to do that.”

Van Persie joined Rooney on the scoresheet, via a late first-half penalty awarded controversially after Young had gone down under a challenge from Kagisho Dikgacoi who was shown a red card for an infringement which may not have been a foul to start with, and may also have taken place outside the area.

Young’s real “crime,” however, came earlier in the half when he went down theatrically after a collision with the same Palace player, a piece of simulation which, rightly, earned the winger a booking.

Moyes did not shirk the issue post-match and confirmed he will talk to the winger about his theatrics. Young’s diving also had the knock-on effect of detracting from an impressive substitute debut by another winger, teenage Belgian Januzaj.

“Everyone knows he’s a player with enormous qualities,” said his countryman and fellow debutant Fellaini. “Technically he’s amazing. Now it’s up to him to prove himself.”

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 6; Fabio 7, Ferdinand 5, Vidic 6, Evra 5; Valencia 6, Anderson 5 (Fellaini 62, 7), Carrick 8, Young 6 (Januzaj 66, 7); Rooney 7, Van Persie 7 (Hernandez 78, 6).

Subs (not used): Evans, Cleverley, Zaha, Amos.

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-4-2): Speroni 7; Mariappa 8, Gabbidon 7, Delaney 6, Moxey 6; Puncheon 5, Dikgacoi 5, Jedinak 5, Campana 5 (Guedioura 58, 5); Chamakh 6 (Kebe 74, 5), Gayle 5 (Jerome 63, 6).

Subs (not used): O’Keefe, Phillips, Alexander, Bannan.

Referee: J Moss 5.