Rooney ends Drought [MU 3 Villa 1]

While Fernando Torres and Edin Dzeko settle in at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively, and Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez grow accustomed to life at Liverpool, Wayne Rooney returned to his true form at Old Trafford. It could not have been more timely.

Without a home goal from open play since March, Rooney has struggled dreadfully. The fact that his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, last night challenged him in his programme notes to score a rather modest 10 goals this season said everything.

But Rooney was always going to rediscover his form at some stage and his two first-half goals set United up for a victory that stretched their unbeaten league run to 29 games. That equals a club record but it will interest Ferguson rather less than the fact Rooney has finally played himself into form.

There were a handful of admirable contributions from United players last night. The Portugal winger Nani continues to impress and was terrific. He could have scored a hat-trick.

Ryan Giggs, meanwhile, continues to offer a passable impression of himself circa 1999.

Rooney took the game away from Villa in the first half, however, with contrasting goals in the first and last minutes.

It was a superb demonstration of the finisher’s art as he ran on to a long punt from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to touch the ball past Villa defender Richard Dunne and smash it over Brad Friedel’s right shoulder.