ALEX FERGUSON has warned the Premier League that Wayne Rooney is back in shape and ready to explode.
By MARTIN BLACKBURN
And the Manchester United boss is expecting a flurry of goals very soon — even though the England man has yet to find the net this season.
Fergie has expressed his concern over Roo’s fitness already this campaign but now says he is in tip-top shape.
However, he has warned the ‘stocky’ former Everton man he must maintain these fitness levels to stay on top of his game.
Ferguson said: “Rooney is fit, he has trained really well.
“The period he was injured, I think that was key to it. He maintained his fitness which is important because he is a stocky lad.
“He is very stocky, he is going to have to train well all the time, there is no doubt about that.”
Rooney has been overshadowed by new strike pal Robin van Persie who has already bagged seven goals in eight appearances this season.
But Fergie expects Rooney’s hard work to pay off soon as United head to Tyneside to play Newcastle this afternoon.
That could be good news for England too with back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland in the next 10 days.
He added: “I think Rooney will start scoring soon, once he gets a few games back.
“We know that, his track record tells you that each year he gets better with his finishing.
“I think Rooney will explode again soon, aye. It is just the start of the season.”
Roo will be hoping to get the nod as United look to put last weekend’s shock 3-2 home defeat against Tottenham behind them.
But the United boss is certainly spoilt for choice in the attacking ranks with Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez also ready to chip in alongside Rooney and Van Persie.
Ferguson has tinkered with his selections up front this season with Shinji Kagawa also playing behind the front men.
The Scot wants his four forwards to all share the burden of scoring and wants more than 60 goals from them in order to regain the Premier League title.
He believes the title-winning season of 2010-2011 when Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Hernandez all chipped in with impressive tallies should be the blueprint for success.
Fergie said: “If you go back to the season before last, Berbatov scored 20-21 goals, Chicharito scored 22 and Rooney scored 30-something. That was perfect, wasn’t it?
“Two players there who took a load off of Rooney in that respect.
“I don’t think it matters that much who gets the goals now.
“Van Persie has had a great start, seven goals. If him and Wayne and possibly one of the other strikers, Welbeck or Chicharito, get to around 20, we are in business.
“I think Rooney and Van Persie will get over 20.”
Ferguson was full of praise for his £22million summer signing from Arsenal Van Persie for getting over the fact he had little or no pre-season by doubling up his work at training.
The United boss revealed the Dutchman has been seeking extra help and it is proving worthwhile with his instant goal rush.
Ferguson added: “What I know is his first games he was short of fitness and sharpness.
“His training sessions are getting better all the time.
“He is doing a lot of work after training with the sports science people, he asked for it because he knows he has make up time because he missed pre-season training.
“He doesn’t carry weight but nonetheless you need four or five games pre-season.
“The other players had that, but he only had 20 minutes against Hamburg with Arsenal.
“He has been good that way in training, I think he is a good pro actually, looks after himself.”
