Will next season be Wayne's world?

Earlier this week Sir Alex Ferguson broke the news which has brought relief and excitement for many Reds fans feeling blue.

No, Real Madrid haven’t gone bankrupt and unfortunately the Glazers haven’t sold up, but Fergie has promised that the finest left back from last years Champions League campaign is to lead the line next year – that’s right Rooney’s back up top.

After spending much of the European campaign last season either holding hands with Patrice Evra or compensating for Ronaldo’s inability to leave the opposition half, Rooney will be back where he belongs.

He is expected to be given license to thrill the Old Trafford faithful and produce more moments of magic like THAT goal against Newcastle and the hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Ferguson has some taken responsibility for Rooney’s stop start progress in realising his individual potential. Rooney’s team ethic and selflessness along with Ronaldo's astronomical improvement have combined to force Fergie’s hand.

Now though with Ronaldo looking to showboat his way through the rest of his career with the Madrid circus, Ferguson will be looking for his No 10 to do what a No 10 should do.

After two months of worry and disappointment the promise of the real Rooney marauding down the centre will delight the United fans (and no doubt Mr Capello) and help to restore some of the feel good factor we had back in May.

Hopefully, signing Berbatov and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial will also get us back on a high, ready for the start of the season.

If Ferguson is true to his word, the stage could be set. With Ronaldo's fall from the limelight and Scholes and Giggs ageing, Old Trafford needs a hero.

Playing as the main man or as the second striker could see Wayne producing more goals like the ones against Russia and Middlesbrough (both as or off the main striker). There is nothing United fans like more than a mercurial, loyal hero (Cristiano Ronaldo please take note).

When Clive Tyldesley implored us to ‘remember the name’ of Rooney back in 2002 we all sat up, took notice and did indeed remember the name. Now six years on it is perhaps time to reacquaint ourselves with that name as next season could prove to be Wayne’s World.

By May, after Ronaldo has kindly done us the favour of playing one more season at the Old Trafford plantation and ‘Wazza’ playing without the shackles – it may be a case of Cristiano who………..??

Of course the only problem now is for Tevez, who is equally selfless and just as willing, but is he any good at left back??

Craig Malpas