Fergie sure Wayne can Roo-l world

SMILE HIGH CLUB ... Wayne Rooney has a laugh during training

ALEX FERGUSON has challenged Wayne Rooney to follow Cristiano Ronaldo and become this season's World Player of the Year.
Ronaldo picked up the 2008-2009 accolade before departing Old Trafford to join Real Madrid.

Now Manchester United boss Ferguson wants Rooney to take the next step in his development and emulate both the Portuguese star and Kaka, who won the award the previous year.

Asked if Rooney can do it, Ferguson said: "Well, that's the challenge there now for every player.

"There are some great players out there. Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi are the best three at the moment and I think Wayne can get to that level if he keeps making progress.

"He is blessed with certain ingredients only certain great players have. He has that hunger and determination.

"They want to win every match, every training session. He is blessed with that and that will never change."

It is that effort which makes Ferguson convinced Rooney, 23, is worth every penny of the £100,000 a week he is paid.

He added: "You sometimes wonder about the criticism of the money players get paid. But then you look at the amount of effort Wayne puts into his work and he is worth every penny."

It was five years ago this week that Rooney made his spectacular debut for United, grabbing a hat-trick in a 6-2 Champions League win over Fenerbahce.


Tonight, at home to German champions Wolfsburg, he will make his 50th European appearance for the club.

Ferguson said: "It was a marvellous start to score a hat-trick on his debut. It was a remarkable feat. But since then his progress has never disappointed us.

"When we signed him as a kid we thought he would become a really top player and he is going in that direction."

Rooney also still wants to do the lot.

Ferguson declared: "He is a funny animal. He sees himself as a good centre-half and I'd not be against that.

"Oh, he is a coach now too, he tells me. A coach, a manager and a referee."