Source: Manchester_EveningNews
McClair: Rooney can make derby difference
THE last time City went into a derby believing they were ready to challenge United's supremacy it took a certain Scouser to put them in their place.
Wayne Rooney's first-half strike at Eastlands last November ensured bragging rights went to the red half of Manchester, while also quelling the excitement whipped up by Sheikh Mansour's stunning takeover at City.
Less than a year on and much has changed at both clubs.
Mark Hughes has been given the financial backing to tear through the transfer market, signing mega-stars like Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez, while United have been shorn of two of the players who played such a major part in their domestic and European dominance over the past three years.
Cristiano Ronaldo was snapped up by Real Madrid for £80m, while Tevez decided his future would be better served in blue rather than red.
But at least one pivotal figure remains at Old Trafford - and Rooney could yet prove the key to success for both club and country over the next 10 months.
The England striker's nine goals in World Cup qualifying have secured Fabio Capello's side their place in South Africa next summer, while five strikes for United this season are evidence that there could yet be life after Ronaldo.
Sir Alex Ferguson promised Rooney at the start of the season that he would be given chance to play in his preferred position as a central striker and it is already paying massive dividends.
And former United striker and current Old Trafford academy director Brian McClair is convinced the 23-year-old will now prove he is on a par with the best players in the world like Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi.
"You would have to look at him on the same level as them," said McClair. "Wayne Rooney has been a great player for a long period of time and year in, year out he has got better and better.
"He's proved how important he is for England, but I'm a Scot. I don't care what he does for them. He's been a very important player for United for a long time.
"He's done very well since he came here from Everton and irrespective of what he is asked to do he's done well.
"He wants to be a goal scorer and the main striker. He will be given that chance this season and I am sure he will score lots of goals."
Rooney could be the biggest winner of all following Ronaldo's departure. While he always operated effectively alongside the Portuguese international, he was often the one to be sacrificed to accommodate Ronaldo's free spirit.
Often asked to play wide left to give United a more compact midfield, Ronaldo was allowed to roam free. As a result much of Rooney's best work had to be done in area's of the pitch where he couldn't fully harm the opposition.
Last season's Champions League final was a perfect case in point with the striker exiled on the flank where he cut a listless figure.
Against Tottenham last Saturday he showed exactly what United have missed when he has played out wide, with him producing a consummate display of front play.
Even when United went down to 10 men, following the dismissal of Paul Scholes, Rooney's work rate and penetration still had the Tottenham defence chasing shadows.
And his solo goal was just reward for the kind of performance that will have Capello believing he has a talent capable of inspiring England to World Cup glory next summer.
Ferguson, meanwhile, believes Rooney can land United a record fourth successive title and reclaim their Champions League crown.
City could yet have something to say about United's Premier League hopes, and McClair admits the champions have watched with interest the goings on at Eastlands.
"Anything that happens in football gets registered everywhere," he said. "The £80m transfer of Ronaldo to Real Madrid was worldwide news.
"Football is the most popular sport in the world and there's so much opinion. You would be following the situation where there is a club in Manchester who in the last transfer window tried to sign one of the best players in the world in Kaka on top of the previous signing of Robinho.
"There is always interest and talk about it, but we are more interested in what United are doing.
"When I was first here City finished above us. There has always been rivalry. City have had various degrees of success and at one point dropped down to the third division before coming back up.
"We are in the situation now where they are looking to build a club from the top.
"When you are spending that type of money you are looking to build a squad that is capable of challenging the supposed top teams in England and Europe. That's their main goal.
"We will see what happens when it comes down to the fight for trophies at the end of the season."
