Source: Team_Talk
Hughes: Rooney will soon sparkle
Mark Hughes expects Wayne Rooney to rediscover his goalscoring touch soon - but hopes it returns after Sunday's showdown at Craven Cottage.[LNB] Manchester United will provide Hughes with one of the most challenging starts in his opening match at Craven Cottage as Fulham manager.[LNB]Counting in Fulham's favour, however, is that United's star striker Wayne Rooney has now gone 13 games without scoring for club or country dating back to March 30.[LNB]Hughes draws similarities between his own playing style and that of Rooney and believes it is only a matter of time before the England marksman regains the finishing touch.[LNB]"I was never prolific and would never score ones or twos every other game," said Hughes, who spent 13 years at Old Trafford over two spells.[LNB]"In fairness I was streaky myself and at times Wayne has been that type of striker.[LNB]"Sometimes my work as a player took me out of the areas where I was most effective and that was in and around the box.[LNB]"When you're trying to work hard for the team you can be out of the areas where you have maximum impact. That affects the number of goals you score.[LNB]"There's a bit of that in Wayne's play at the moment because he's such an enthusiastic guy and wants to be involved in every aspect of the team's play.[LNB]"That's taken him away from being in areas where's he's most dangerous.[LNB]"It's only a matter of time before he starts scoring, as long as it's not this weekend![LNB]"He's a quality player. Class is permanent, form is temporary.[LNB]"There's no doubt he'll return to scoring ways and once he does he'll find they'll flow quite freely."[LNB]Hughes is determined to start life at Craven Cottage on a triumphant note, though he knows a United side fresh from Monday's 3-0 victory over Newcastle will be hard to topple.[LNB]"This is my first competitive home game so I've been looking forward to it," he said.[LNB]"The fact it's Manchester United makes it more difficult from a professional point of view and we know we're up against it.[LNB]"We have a good record against them at Craven Cottage and hopefully we'll build on it.[LNB]"It's a challenge because they have started very well, look fresh and have added younger players to the squad.[LNB]"But the old stagers are still having an impact and influence on the game. They have a good mix."[LNB]Fulham sprung one of the upsets of last season when they thrashed United 3-0 with the last 15 minutes played against the backdrop of home fans chanting "we want four, we want four".[LNB]"It was an important win because you have to have the knowledge that you can overcome the best," said Hughes.[LNB]"The players now know they have the ability to beat the top teams. We'll have to match that performance."
