Mirror.co.uk Sport

Wayne Rooney is the greatest English
striker since Alan Shearer, says team-mates

19th December, by David McDonnell

Wayne Rooney was hailed as the best English striker since Alan Shearer after he inspired Manchester United to a place in the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Rooney came on for the last 15 minutes and in that short time dispelled any notion that he, or indeed United, had scant regard for this much maligned tournament.

After scoring with his first touch, Rooney plundered a second goal four minutes later to give United enough of a lead to allow them to concede twice late on and still ensure they made Sunday's final against Ecuador's Liga de Quito.

And Rooney's devastating form - he was only left out of the starting line-up because he suffered a knock in training - had team-mates comparing him to Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading goal scorer. "I was pleased for Wazza," said Rio Ferdinand. "He came on and changed the game for us. He produced two great finishes from two great moves.

"This season the manager has asked him to be more of a player who runs through the middle.

"And Wayne has to be more selfish if he wants to score 25 to 30 goals a season. To do that, you have to have a certain amount of selfishness and he's capable of scoring that amount.

"With Wayne, we see in training how difficult he is to play against. If he continues to keep working the way he has been and is more selfish, then he can be top scorer in the Premier League.

"At the moment he's playing more like a No.9 and could easily be the best No.9 in the world. He's got more tools in his game than any other No 9 in the world."

On United's pre-season tour of South Africa last summer, Fergie said he was at fault for playing Rooney out of position too often, rather than giving the 23-year-old his favoured central striking role.

Now restored to the position he relishes, Rooney has rediscovered the free-scoring form that saw him achieve acclaim for England at Euro 2004 and convince Fergie to sign him from Everton.

United skipper Gary Neville was equally effusive in his praise. "Wayne came on and gave us impetus and penetration through the middle," said Neville. "And he took his goals really well. A few years ago you would have said Wayne was a 'drop-in-the-hole' player but there's no doubt now he's a centre forward who plays off the shoulder and runs through the middle. He's a bit like Shearer in that respect.

"If I was facing Wayne I'd much rather have him dropping off deep than on my shoulder running through with his power, pace, desire and determination. It's very difficult to stay with that strength and power."

Rooney's late cameo was marred by a booking, but the belligerent striker protested his innocence, insisting he won the ball. "Did I not win the ball?" said Rooney. "I thought I won it and was unlucky to get booked. I think the referee got it wrong and maybe he should look at that again."

Headers from Nemanja Vidic and Cristiano Ronaldo gave United a 2-0 half-time lead, which should have ensured a comfortable win. But the game ended in a frenzy of six goals in the last 16 minutes.

Gamba Osaka pulled one back in the 74th minute, but Rooney responded immediately to make it 3-1, with Darren Fletcher then heading in from close-range to extend their advantage.

When Rooney ran on to a through ball from Ryan Giggs and applied an assured finish with 10 minutes to go to make it 5-1, United were strolling into Sunday's final.

But Neville conceded a penalty for handball, which was converted, and Osaka added a third in stoppage time.

Ronaldo outlined the importance of Sunday's final when he said: "It's very important to win. We've got a great chance to be world champions and all the players are looking forward to it.

"Winning this trophy would give us more motivation and momentum in the second half of the season to win the Premier League and the Champions League again."