Rooney aims for knock-out blow

WAYNE Rooney has revealed he gets the punch bag out if he wants to get rid of some excess anger.

The Manchester United star is no longer the firebrand he was in his younger days, flying off the handle at every little problem.

But the 24–year–old, who aims to down Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight, retains an ultra–competitive edge that occasionally requires an outlet.

Sir Alex Ferguson hopes there will be no reason for Rooney to get angry in the Allianz Arena as the striker returns from a bruised foot for the quarter–final first–leg tie.

Rooney has established himself as one of the most feared forwards in Europe thanks to his 33–goal contribution to United’s season.

But Ferguson believes the presence of another England man — who missed Saturday’s four–goal destruction of Bolton — is even more crucial to United’s chances of winning a record seventh successive away win in the competition, £29.1million defender Rio Ferdinand.

With Chelsea to follow on Saturday, Ferguson is now aware that Vidic will escape any FA action for his challenge on Johan Elmander that drew such a stinging rebuke from Trotters chief Owen Coyle, who labelled it a “terrible tackle”.

The United camp did not see the incident in the same way, and neither did referee Martin Atkinson, who confirmed he had a clear view.