Rooney ready for Roma revenge

Wayne Rooney knows precisely how determined AS Roma will be to exact revenge on United after the Reds' 7-1 victory back in April – because he has put himself in their shoes.

After thrashing the Italians in the Champions League quarter final second leg last season, the Giallorossi return to Old Trafford in Tuesday's Group F clash hell-bent on setting the record straight.

Asked what he would do if he had been in a team that had been beaten 7-1 and then had a chance to redeem themselves so soon after the event, Rooney smiled and said: “If it was me, I’d be sitting here rubbing my hands. I’d have been delighted as soon as the draw was made. I wouldn’t be able to wait for the game and I’d see it as an opportunity to put things right.

“I’m sure that Roma will be fired up for this game. We need to be aware of that, but what we have to do is concentrate on our job and play the way we know we can.”

Rooney also says that the Reds must put the 7-1 scoreline out of their minds and concentrate on playing at full tilt against Luciano Spalletti’s men.

"It was a great result for us, but I think we all know it won’t happen again,” he said. “We know it will be a difficult game. We have to do our job and try and win the game.”

The 21-year-old striker is looking for his first goal this season, and Tuesday night would be an ideal time for him to get off the mark.

“It was a disappointing start to the season for me because I got the metatarsal injury,” he added. “But I’ve played three games now and hopefully I can start scoring again and help the team keep winning games.”

Rooney has been deployed as the main striker in United's attack this season, with Carlos Tevez dropping deeper. When asked to do a similar job last season, he went on a scoring run of 11 goals in 14 matches during March and April. He will be hoping to do that again, and says his partnership with Tevez has plenty of potential.

"I enjoy playing alongside Carlos," he said. "He’s a good player and he's starting to play really well.

"Playing with Carlos makes it a slightly different role for me. I have to play on the shoulder of the defender and let Carlos be the link between the midfield and the forwards. Of course, I’m happy to do that role, and I think it could bring more to my game. I did it quite a lot last season. I got a few goals from doing that so I’ve got no problems at all doing that."