Rooney in Scholes' shadow

MANCHESTER - Ageless stars Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs received most of the plaudits after Manchester United kicked off their 2010/11 Barclays Premier League campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Newcastle United here on Monday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).

Indeed, Scholes, 35, provided a masterclass, pulling the strings from midfield as he led the Newcastle engine room personnel on a merry chase, having a hand in all three goals.

He teed up Giggs expertly for the Welshman to round off the scoring, and Sir Alex Ferguson would have been well-satisfied with his team's start to the new season, especially after champions Chelsea put West Bromwich Albion to the sword on Sunday in a 6-0 drubbing.

The only dampener for the Old Trafford faithful would have been another average display by Wayne Rooney.

While it does look as if the United striker has rediscovered his hunger, after his abysmal performance for England at the World Cup - his game was still peppered with poor first touches and a hesitancy in front of goal.

Few believe the Red Devils can rip the Premiership trophy from Chelsea's clutches without Rooney rediscovering his best form, but the striker has now not scored a competitive goal since March 30 - with injuries limiting his involvement towards the end of last term followed by the disappointment in South Africa.

Rooney played for an hour before being replaced by summer signing Javier Hernandez, and while Ferguson admitted the England man "looked a little short", his manager is convinced it is a matter of time before the 24-year-old is his old self.

Speaking about the substitution, Ferguson said: "That was always the plan. I told the boy I'd give him an hour. He looked a little short, but that will bring him on. He will be sharper against Fulham next week and he will soon be back to his best, for sure."

Meanwhile, Ferguson insisted keeping pace with Chelsea would be United's main priority: "Chelsea are the team to beat.

"Goals could come into it at the end. Last year, Chelsea were ahead by a landslide as far as goals were concerned, but we've got goals in our team."

United led at the break with goals from Berbatov and Fletcher, before Giggs' third later on.

Ferguson could not say enough for his two veterans, Scholes who is 35 and 36-year-old Giggs. "Paul's got marvellous passing range and vision in the game and he's still got the appetite to play," Ferguson said.

"Anyone who gets to that age and they retain that - then you've got two players who are something special." Agencies

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