Carrick: Rooney Hitting Peak

Wayne Rooney is destined to have his best season to date, according to team-mate Michael Carrick.

Rooney has made a rapacious start to the campaign - scoring back-to-back hat-tricks - and has eight goals already this term.

The improvement in his form can be put into context when you consider that he is already just three goals short of the sum he attained last term.

United will face Benfica at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening, and while Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make changes for the game, the apex of his attack is expected to play.

"This is probably Wayne's best season so far and I am expecting big things from him," said Carrick

"He has done well in the past but he is getting more mature. He is handling things well and going from strength to strength.

"Sometimes he plays well but because he hasn't scored, people don't think he has played well. They just judge him on his goals.

"To score and perform the way he has is brilliant."

Carrick has fielded criticism in the past from his own manager about being a slow starter and until Tom Cleverley's injury against Bolton he had not been involved.

Last season, he missed the first two months of the campaign with an ankle injury, before returning to form an integral part of the team that clinched its 19th league title.

Yet he maintains he has not been worried about regaining his place in Ferguson's youthful-looking starting XI.

"It is not so much a case of being worried about getting back in, more that I just want to play," added Carrick.

"I have to be patient. I have not been left out in the cold in any way and I know I am going to get games. It is frustrating but I look at the bigger picture.

"It hasn't just been me who has had to wait. Others are facing the same situation. But now the Champions League has started again more players will be needed."