Wayne Rooney is aiming to top the 20-goal mark for Manchester
United this season.
With Cristiano Ronaldo now installed at Real Madrid for a world
record £80million and Carlos Tevez controversially becoming part of
Mark Hughes' expanding squad at Manchester City, more focus will be
on Rooney as United look to complete an unprecedented fourth
successive league title.
The England star has shown no sign of the pressure affecting him
so far even if, despite the encouragement of Chinese supporters, he
was unable to get on the mark in an eight-goal romp against
Hangzhou Greentown on Sunday.
And, he admits last year's tally of 20 has given him something
to improve on.
"I have always said I would like to score more goals than the
previous season so that is what I am aiming for again this time,"
he told www.manutd.com.
"If I can do that I will be really happy."
Although plenty of doubts have been expressed about how United
will cope without Ronaldo in particular, Rooney is not too
concerned.
With the arrival of Michael Owen United have bolstered their
attacking ranks, while £17million new-boy Antonio Valencia links up
with his new team-mates in Munich on Monday to bring extra
pace.
"I am pretty relaxed about things," said Rooney.
"There are a lot of great players in our team and we know if we
all work together then we are capable of achieving great
things."
With the Far East leg of their pre-season campaign over, United
now meet more meaningful opposition in the Audi Cup.
Nemanja Vidic will join Valencia as an addition to Sir Alex
Ferguson's tour squad but the trip has come too soon for Owen
Hargreaves, who will continue his recovery from operations on both
knees.
Boca Juniors lie in wait on Wednesday, with either Bayern Munich
or AC Milan the opponents 24 hours later in what represents the
true test of how much work has been done over the past 10 days.
Ferguson is confident the results will be positive, particular
with regard to Owen, whose two goals yesterday took his overall
tally to four, suggesting he will be a worthy wearer of United's
famed number seven shirt.
"The criteria for the number seven is quite clear," said
Ferguson.
"It is a jersey that has been worn by some high-profile players
so you have to choose someone you are confident can carry that
on.
"I am not concerned about what the supporters think - it is
important to give it to someone who is confident and comfortable
and Michael was a natural choice."
Providing he stays clear of the injuries that disrupted his time
at Newcastle so badly, Ferguson is confident the striker can find
the net on a regular basis.
The United manager has already set his new recruit a 15-goal
target for his debut season, which Owen should achieve if he stays
fit, given the number of chances his team-mates tend to create.
"Owen's overall play is well suited to us," he said. "He is very
clever in the last third. He knows when to run and when to hold his
runs.
"The experience he gives in that position is vital.
"It's not the acid test but things are looking good with that
signing because, given his abilities and understanding of play in
the last third, we know he will get goals."