As he savoured his third United hat-trick and moved into
double figures for the season, Wayne Rooney admitted that he is
hopeful of setting a new personal best goals tally this
term.
The firebrand England international has consistently scored
around 20 goals per season, with his most prolific campaign coming
in 2006/07, when he reached 23 in all competitions. With 11 already
this term, he is hopful of surpassing that.
"Of course, taking penalties, my tally should be a lot higher,"
Rooney told MUTV. "Thankfully I've scored two of
them today. It's a great feeling to score a hat-trick, an amazing
feeling."
Rooney's first penalty at Fratton Park came in a hotly-contested
first 45 minutes in which Portsmouth enjoyed the better openings,
and the striker conceded that United were made to work for the
points.
"It was quite difficult in the first half. The manager was
disappointed we didn't move the ball round as well as we can, and
we didn't create that many clear cut chances," he said.
"We had to try and work on that in the second half, and we got
the goals and could ease off. But overall it was a difficult game
and we're really pleased with the three points."