Ferguson delighted with captain Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney is back to his best after the young talisman captained Manchester United to a 3-0 Champions League success against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night.

Rooney was handed the captain's armband 15 minutes before kick-off after late withdrawals by Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand left United short of experience and the 20-year-old responded with a tremendous performance. Paul Scholes, John O'Shea and Kieran Richardson were the scorers but Rooney was at the heart of United's best moves.

Ferguson said: "He's quite possibly the youngest player to captain United, he was fantastic and his form is back, as we expected."

He added: "He had joked about it last season - he said within earshot of Roy Keane that he should be captain and that Keane was finished - Roy didn't exactly enjoy that but it was just a wind-up.

"Quite a few players have carried that armband in the last few years, it just shows you what has happened in the last few years in terms of major injuries and players leaving the club, it has not been easy."

Rooney had worn the armband briefly against Burton Albion last season after coming off the bench but enjoyed his first taste of tossing the coin.

"I was pleased to get the armband but it wasn't the main issue of the night," said Rooney.

"We're really pleased, we got three goals and three points and it was an important win. My form is getting better, I was pleased with how I played against Wigan and again in this game. I think I'm more or less back to my best."

United are top of the Premiership and this win has put them on the very brink of the Champions League knock-out phase. It is in sharp contrast to the start of last season when United failed to make it into the last 16 of the Champions League and allowed Chelsea too great a head start on the domestic front.

Ferguson said: "I think our players have proved themselves. They have grown up. They don't want any more embarrassments and they played well into the bargain. We know exactly all about last year and we are not getting a repeat and that speaks highly for the team and their motivation - and more importantly the expression of their football was really good."