Wayne Unscathed On Return

David Moyes has revealed that Wayne Rooney came through 90 minutes against Crystal Palace unscathed after wearing a headband to protect his head injury.

The United striker produced a couple of moments of real quality during the 2-0 triumph against the ten-man Eagles, picking out Robin van Persie with a tremendous through ball when the Dutchman hit the bar, and making the points safe with a stylish free-kick.

After coming on as a substitute against Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League opener, Rooney started - and impressed - against Chelsea, only to be forced out of the trip to his native Merseyside to face Liverpool because of the gash he sustained in training.

"We wanted to try to get Wayne through 90 minutes today," explained the boss.

"It was a difficult decision [to play him] but we were trying to see him in training with the headband on and he felt okay with it. He felt he could wear it so we thought we'd try and get him out. It looks like a sumo wrestler's! It was a great free kick though.

"I felt he tired a little bit in the second half but I spoke to him and said: 'Look, we'll get you 90 minutes' because of his lack of match practice to help him towards the overall goal of getting back to match sharpness and match fitness. There was no reaction. He looks fine and went for a couple of headers with it!

"I felt that I wanted to keep him on, get some minutes under his belt, and get him ready for the coming weeks and months. Goalscorers want to score, and Robin and Wayne got goals today, that’s what we want."

Van Persie was withdrawn towards the end to give Javier Hernandez a run-out but Danny Welbeck was absent due to fluid on his knee. Moyes suggested he will monitor the England forward in the coming days with the Manchester derby following Tuesday's Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen.