I’m At My Best Right Now – Rooney

The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer was alleged to signal a period of strife for the reigning Premier League champions, a side thought likely to struggle to fill the goal-scoring void created by the former FIFA World Player of the Year’s exit.

Rooney, though, has shouldered the responsibility with apparent ease.

“I’m probably playing the best I’ve done in my career,” he said in The Sun after the 5-0 hammering Sir Alex Ferguson masterminded over relegation-threatened and cash-strapped Portsmouth.

“But also I’m really enjoying my football because it’s going well for me personally and the team.”

He continued: “Hopefully, I can push on from this for the rest of the season. I haven’t really set any targets, I just try and score when I play.

“If I do great but, if not, hopefully the team wins anyway.”

Rooney, 24, has already equalled the total goal-haul from his most prolific season to date. With a 21-goal return from 24 appearances, Rooney is four goals clear of second-placed Didier Drogba in the stakes for the Premier League Golden Boot.