Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants his star forward Wayne Rooney
to be more consistent in front of goal this year, even though the
23-year-old England international has come out firing this season with
six goals in as many games.
Fergie would like to see Rooney put
up numbers with the consistency that his former United team-mate Ruud
van Nistelrooy did. The Dutchman scored 150 in 219 appearance during
his five seasons at Old Trafford, averaging one goal in every 1.46
games. Rooney's average currently stands at around a goal in every 2.36
games.
“There is no difference between this season and last in terms of desire or
anything with Wayne; he is always wanting to score goals,” Ferguson said.
“You get this with players who are developing, but he just needs
consistency.
“He goes in bunches of sixes and sevens and then goes quiet for a few weeks. Ruud once went nine games in a row and scored just one goal in each game. If we can get that kind of consistency from Wayne, it will make a difference to him and us.
"He has started well with his scoring, but we need a couple of players to get us more than 20 goals. Our goal ratio last season was very poor.”
Ferguson is relying upon Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to help United's No 10 with the scoring burden as the Red Devils adjust to life without Cristiano Ronaldo. Owen was brought in to function as the third striker behind Rooney and Berbatov, but Ferguson insists the former Liverpool striker will see plenty of action.
“Owen has not been involved and I explained that to him,” Ferguson said. “Owen
doesn’t come into the equation because we are trying to get a blend of
Berbatov and Rooney, but he will play plenty of games.