Fergie hopes for end to Rooney drought
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping for Wayne Rooney to get a break and help Manchester United end Chelsea's two-season domination of the Barclays Premiership.
United are scoring goals for fun going into the crucial clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Curiously, though, 20-year-old Rooney has not been among them.
"Wayne just needs a break," said the United manager. "I am not concerned at all. It will come. What he needs to do is get into that one goal a game rhythm that strikers can do for you. If he does that it will make a big difference to our run-in."
He added: "He is a big-game player. Wayne is a great example of a great player. He is prepared to work as hard as anyone.
"He is working his socks off and has a terrific attitude."
Rooney looks likely to continue his partnership with on-loan striker Henrik Larsson. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha are both pushing to start a game after shaking off their injury concerns.
Goals have also coming from throughout the team with Michael Carrick opening his account last weekend following his £18million move from Tottenham.
With Chelsea - who trail United by six points - facing Liverpool on Saturday it is an important weekend for the front-runners.
Arsenal chalked up a superb victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season and Ferguson expects another tight contest in the return clash.
He said: "They deserved to win that day and this should be another fantastic game. Both teams are playing excellent football and it is a difficult one to call."
