text: Wayne Rooney believes being elevated to Manchester United’s main striker could allow him to surpass his best ever season tally of 34 goals for the club.
  
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  The United captain has been told by his manager Louis van Gaal that he is to play centre-forward again next season. In each of the two previous campaigns Rooney operated in the position, the 2011-12 and 2009-10 seasons, he scored 34 times in all competitions.
  
  The 29-year-old is confident he can challenge that mark: “That was the last time I really played the full season as a striker. All the other seasons I have been up front, then in midfield or out wide so hopefully if I stay up front then I can get near that again.
  
  “I have no doubts in myself. I have no doubts that I can do that again and I am ready to take on that mantle again and be the one who gets the goals for this team.”
  
  Rooney’s overall United tally of 230 goals places him behind only Sir Bobby Charlton, who holds the club record with 249 and Denis Law, who scored 237. The Liverpudlian is excited to again be the focal point of the attack. “It is where I like and I am sure it is where I will play,” he said. “It is obviously on me then to score the goals. It is where the manager and myself see my best position. Hopefully I can get a good run of games and repay the manager and score goals for the team. I have played different roles over the years for United but you only have to look when I play for England as a striker – I score goals.
  
  “I am ready for the season.I hope to score 20 or more goals again. If I am playing as a striker then I will be disappointed if I cannot do that again. I am excited – it is a big season for us. We have the quality to make sure we get back into the Champions League.”
  
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  Rooney has been asked to play as a No10, in central midfield, and in both the wide left and right positions during his time at United, yet he denies being moved around too much. “I don’t think I have sacrificed myself too much over the years,” he said. “Football is a team game and you win and lose together.
  
  “Over the years I have been successful and won a lot of trophies with United and I think there are times when you have to do things for the good of the team and I feel I have done that. I have played deeper or wider some seasons and won Premier League medals and as a footballer that is your aim to be successful with your team-mates.
  
  “My best position – and I have always said it – is as a striker, and the two seasons I have really done that as a lone striker are my two best goalscoring seasons. So hopefully if I play up there again this season then I can score the goals.
  
  “If the manager wants me to do different jobs then I will do it. It was the same last season. But with the quality we have bought into the squad and the numbers we have brought in the manager has options in midfield so there shouldn’t be a need to go and play there.”
  
  After defeating Club América 1-0 in Seattle in their opening tour match, Rooney is conscious of the need for United to play well against San Jose Earthquakes, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in their remaining pre-season games. These are the only outings Van Gaal’s team have before Tottenham Hotspur’s visit for the season opener on 8 August. As United have the first leg of a Champions League qualifier in mid-August this accentuates the need to make a strong start.
  
  “Tottenham is the game we are all preparing for,” he said. “We know how the Swansea game last season affected us after losing it [on opening day]. It made it a really difficult start for us. We have the Champions League qualifier soon after that so we have to get off to a good start and get some momentum.”
  
  Of his side’s chances in the league, Rooney believes United can claim a 21st championship: “Yes I think so. At times last season we were very good in particular in some of the big games and adding that quality will help us be a bit more consistent. That will give us a real chance at the title.”