David Moyes: Man United’s Wayne Rooney a real team player

David Moyes reckons Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has turned himself into a “real team player” this season.

The 28-year-old has scored eight goals and made eight assists in 15 Premier League appearances this season, helping the Red Devils remain within touching distance of the top four.

The assists for the team, the goals and his all-round contribution has been fantastic

David Moyes

And Moyes, who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson at the Old Trafford helm in the summer, believes the forward is lifting the performances of his fellow team-mates.

“Wayne has turned himself into a real team player. The assists for the team, the goals and his all-round contribution has been fantastic,” Moyes said.

“He looks as if he is beginning to take ownership himself. He is starting to say: ‘Look, come on, we need to play better. We need to make sure we are doing much more than we are doing.’

“I see that in the dressing room. I see it every day in training when he is continually trying to improve himself. Wayne has those qualities. It is good for us. Hopefully in the years to come we are going to need that from him.”

Moyes believes Rooney has an important role to play when it comes to nurturing the young members of the United squad.

“What he is doing is making the others play well because he is playing well. His performances have been good,” added Moyes.

“He needs to show the young players because that is what happens at this club. You go through the years and look at people like Ryan Giggs and the advice he gave to Wayne Rooney.

“Wayne has now got to give it to Adnan Januzaj and the new players coming up. He has a big responsibility to show the next generation the standards that Manchester United set and what you have to do every week if you are going to play for this club.”