David Moyes challenges Wayne Rooney to score 30 goals this season

Wayne Rooney in action for Manchester United against Crystal Palace

Manchester United boss David Moyes has challenged striker Wayne Rooney to net a total of 30 goals for the club this season. The Scot hopes that Rooney and Robin Van Persie become a force to reckon with this season and foster the best partnership in the premiere league. The Guardian reports.

The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes for Uniteds game against Crystal Palace and even managed to score a goal from a thunderous free kick. The forward’s head injury was hidden by a black band and left the pitch to applause from the Old Trafford faithful who continue to stand by him in spite of the recent transfer saga.

Moyes confessed that he thought the goal came at just the right time and was a sort of signal to mark his comeback.

“I think that is right ,” he said. “It has been so stop-start through pre-season to get him to this situation. I think that for him it was a big moment. It was a great free-kick as well. The ability to get the ball up and down over the wall quickly was good.”

The 27-year-old netted 16 goals last season which was considered a below par performance for the striker. Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson mostly played him in a deep midfield role last season but his successor David Moyes has confirmed that he will be played as a striker this term and admitted that he hopes Rooney will fire 30 goals for the champions.

“I will try to do that. I think Wayne’s aim will be to do that as well. Hopefully we can make that happen,” he said.

The 50-year-old hopes that Rooney and Van Persie can strike fear in the hearts of rivals this season.

“The hope is that we get a partnership where folk are saying, ‘My goodness we are having to play against Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney’. Everybody is looking to see if those two form a partnership that can score lots of goals. I have to say I have also got Chicharito [Javier Hernández] and Danny Welbeck. Danny has made a great start to the season.”

The Scot has chosen not to allot his former Everton prodigy a midfield role this season.

“Not just now. I can only see Wayne playing up top and playing as a forward for us,” he said. “He has scored a lot of goals. It was down last year. But to be successful you need to have people who can score you 20 goals. I am hoping with Robin and Wayne you have two there who you would say they have it in them to do that. It was also good for us that Robin scored. A good start.”

Moyes firmly believes that the Old Trafford faithful helped Rooney go back on his decision to quit the club.

“I am sure he has gained confidence,” he said. “He has got himself in a really good physical condition, albeit he lacks match practise because of his stop-start injuries. I think the crowd have given him a great lift and hopefully he can repay them with plenty of goals. He needs a period now to get back to what he does best. I thought in the first half he was excellent but tired in the second. I had spoken to him to try and get 90 minutes under his belt and I thought that would help us in the long run. I could have changed it earlier but I wanted him to get those minutes because he needs it.”

Rooney is expected to spearhead Uniteds attack against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League match this Tuesday.