Wayne Rooney may have operated in a number of roles in 2008/09, but it didn't stop him being hugely effective for the Reds, playing at full throttle with spectacular scoring bursts and all-action displays. And despite the red mist at Fulham, his maturity was influential in United's success.
Start to finish: With Cristiano Ronaldo injured and Dimitar Berbatov yet to arrive, United started the season with Rooney shouldering the attacking responsibility along with Carlos Tevez. It took Wayne a few weeks to get into the scoring groove but, as ever, when he found his range he was utterly devastating. In the autumn we were treated to a scoring streak of nine in seven matches in all competitions, a spell Rooney admitted was the best form of his career. An unfortunate by-product of his uncompromising attitude is always the risk of injury and in mid-January Wayne damaged his hamstring after just eight minutes of the Wigan home match – having scored the only goal of the game after 54 seconds. He returned after six weeks out and was immediately back in the goals, netting against Fulham and Blackburn in the space of four days, and continued to exert considerable influence as the Reds marched relentlessly to a third successive title.
In position: Wazza famously will play in any position in training and fancies himself as one of the best goalkeepers at the club, and while his versatility doesn’t stretch quite that far on matchdays, he’s willing to perform whichever role the manager feels necessary. Sometimes used up front on his own, increasingly he starts off on the left side, and while it may not be his preferred position, he’ll perform his role with nothing less than 100 per cent.
Season highlights: Wayne's tally of 20 goals in all competitions including the winner in the FIFA Club World Cup final. In the league, the 5-2 thriller at home to Spurs will live long in the memory and while Tevez’s high-impact substitute appearance was the comeback’s catalyst, Rooney was at the centre of everything, scoring two, making two and setting up Michael Carrick for the penalty shout that started it all off.
Vital contribution: Coming from Merseyside, Rooney fully understands the importance of derby days, and this season he was delighted to score the decisive goal away at City.
Any lows: His injury aside, the sending off against Fulham was harsh, but was another bleak moment in a nightmare seven days.
Any other business: The nation’s journalists recognised Rooney’s contribution this season, voting him third in their Footballer of the Year poll.
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