Unbeaten Rooney Puts Team First

Many people talk about United as a one-man team, thanks to a certain Mr. Ronaldo's mind-boggling season. They might have a point - but miss the point at the same time.

Rooney will play his 23rd league game of the campaign at the Riverside tomorrow and United won 19 and drew three of the rest. No losses. Out of the ten he didn't play in we lost four. One-man team? Well, something like that. Not that Rooney wants to be one.

'I've missed a few games through injury this season and though it's not something I wanted it's helping me now as we come towards the end of the season,' the Daily Mail quotes him.

'I love the Champions League but the Premier League is still the major trophy to win for me. It's the competition I grew up on watching Everton when I was younger.'

'I want to go unbeaten for the rest of the season because it means we will have a great chance of winning the league. The most important thing for me — winning trophies for the team. Individual things aren't something to be concerned about.

'We are doing very well at the minute. The defence have been brilliant all season. If they carry on keeping clean sheets, I'm sure us front players will keep winning the games for us.'

It's true he missed a fair few games so he's not in need of rest. However, he hardly skipped a match in 2006/07 yet reserved his best form for the spring just as he does this time. He is not one to burn out - and seems to love it best when the stakes are the highest.