Rooney Eyes Best Ever Tally

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is confident he can achieve his best ever goal tally for a season having helped himself to a hat-trick against Portsmouth.

Avram Grant's first match in charge of Pompey was overshadowed by the form of the England man, as his treble eased United to a 4-1 victory at Fratton Park.

Rooney, who scored twice from the penalty spot, now has ten goals to his name this season; a campaign in which he has perhaps stepped from Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow to establish himself as the club's most important player.

His best ever campaign is back in 2006/07, when he scored 23 in all competitions. It is a figure he is confident he can eclipse this term.

"Taking penalties my tally should be a lot higher," he told the club's official website.

"Thankfully, I've scored two of them today. It's a great feeling to score a hat-trick, an amazing feeling."

United's other goalscorer on the South Coast was the evergreen Ryan Giggs, whose second-half effort was his 100th Premier League goal.

Giggs turns 36 on Sunday and Rooney admits he is staggered at the level of consistency the Welshman achieves week on week.

"If you'd have looked at him playing today you'd never have thought he was anywhere near 36. More 26," he told Sky Sports.

"The way he conducts himself, his performances are just unbelievable."