WAYNE Rooney is predicting Michael Owen's move to United
will give the England sharp-shooter a new lease of life.
Owen's career appeared to be heading for the buffers until Sir Alex
Ferguson stepped in with the offer of a two-year contract which
could turn out to be one of the Scot's masterstrokes.
Nothing too much will be read into Owen's goal at the Bukit Jalil
Stadium that gave United a 3-2 win over a Malaysian Select XI they
will also face in the same stadium later today.
However, Rooney can sense his old international colleague is ready
to explode again.
"Over the last couple of years Michael has had some criticism but
it would have been difficult for any player to score in the
Newcastle team he was in last season," said Rooney.
"He looked really sharp in training. He is working very hard and
you could see by the way all the lads celebrated with him how
pleased they were for him when he scored.
"This move will give him a new lease of life."
The same could also be said for Rooney, who opened United's account
with a tap-in on Saturday and then set Nani up for their
second.
Position
For if one man is going to profit from Cristiano Ronaldo's world
record £80million exit, it is surely Rooney given he can now
abandon his station on the wing and resume a forward role in which
Fabio Capello feels he has few peers in the world game.
"We haven't spoken about it but I am sure that is where I'll play,"
he said.
"Everyone knows it's my best position. I enjoy it more than being
out on the flanks - it's less work and you get more chances to
score. As a forward that's what you want."
Like Owen, Rooney knows it will take a collective effort to cover
the 67 goals from the last two seasons Ronaldo left as his legacy
before moving to Real Madrid.
The pair might have had their differences on the international
field, but Rooney's respect for the Portugal superstar's abilities
is immense.
"I have spoken to Cristiano since he left and wished him well," he
said.
"He was a great player for Manchester United but it was his wish to
go and I think the club have respected that.
"Both for the club and Cristiano himself it was a good deal. The
money we got for him was unbelievable.
"We don't feel let down by him. We always knew he was going to go
sometime."