United take control

SIR Alex Ferguson has set Wayne Rooney a 40–goal target to fire Manchester United to Premier League glory.

With Manchester City losing at Swansea — see opposite page — United hit top spot for the first time since the middle of October thanks to Rooney’s second brace in as many games in the 2-0 defeat of West Brom.

It took the striker to 26 for the season and Ferguson believes if he can get himself another 14 in United’s final 10 matches, they will not be far off clinching a 20th league title.

“If Wayne gets to 40 goals I will be absolutely delighted because we will be in business then,” said Ferguson.

“The City defeat was a bonus I didn’t expect, but I am happy to be top because only a few weeks ago we were seven points behind them.

“That is credit to the players and the resilience of the squad because as everyone knows, we have had a lot of injuries.”

United have had so many injuries that Rooney does not feel they have been given the credit their recent form deserves.

Rooney requires another eight goals to equal his best ever haul of 34, scored in his injury–blighted 2009–2010 campaign.

The forward’s opener came before the break, when he toed home what he thought was a shot from an acute angle by Javier Hernandez.

United had already survived a couple of scares, and then escaped what appeared to be a foul by Patrice Evra on Peter Odemwingie in the penalty area before Jonas Olsson was sent off.

Not long afterwards, Keith Andrews fouled Ashley Young, allowing Rooney to convert the penalty.

The United boss insisted the future of Paul Pogba remained unclear after introducing the teenager as a second–half replacement for Paul Scholes despite reports early in the week that he had agreed to join Juventus.