Why this man is now crucial to Manchester United’s success:

When it comes to the remainder of the season, it appears that Rooney is the main talisman, and the one to finish off chances. The other strikers haven’t shown the same form that they did towards the start of the season and, as we’ve seen in past campaigns, once Rooney builds up a run of goals he can be hard to stop. Whether he plays high up the pitch as an out and out striker, or in behind someone else, he still has a crucial role to play.

When playing just in behind, he is the one to dictate the tempo and drive the play from midfield to attack, something which he does very well and very recognisably as he drops so deep to collect the ball.

However, against Bilbao in the first leg for example, he didn’t do enough off the ball to stifle the opposition dominance in midfield. If Ferguson is going to allow him to drift deep and away from the traditional number nine role in big games in the Premiership, he will need to be more willing and alert when his side don’t have the ball.

If United find themselves in need of a goal, then Rooney plays the perfect role in attack to make the difference and inspire the team. It’s not just the goals that Manchester United need him for either, its the mental attributes he brings as well and the determined manor in which he uses the ball to drive the team forward.

If you look through the United team at the moment, there are inconsistencies. In midfield you have quite a few options now, with people returning from injury, and there is a mix of young and old. In past seasons, they would look to Giggs and Scholes to push them towards the title, but they are really not going to get the sort of game time or be able to have the same level of impact now.

The defence is also slightly broken up with the absence of Vidic. The one common factor to become relied upon as a leading figure now is Wayne Rooney, and he should relish the chance to guide his side to the League title.

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