Boss expects Wazza goal rush

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney's eighth strike of the season at Sunderland - his first in six games since returning from an ankle injury - could spark another goal rush.

The striker netted seven times in seven games during October and November and also bagged two goals for England during that period.

A freak training ground accident in mid-November, which ruled him out for three weeks, derailed the 22-year-old somewhat, but Sir Alex believes his Boxing Day opener at the Stadium of Light could be the catalyst to another good run of goalscoring form.

"I have said before that strikers do go on little runs like that," the boss told MUTV. "It is his first goal for six games, but his goals have come in waves.

"When he got his recent injury, he was out for nearly a month and since then, he has been gradually getting towards what we have seen of him against Sunderland."