Young: Rooney Will Score More Goals

Ashley Young believes there are more goals to come from Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United captain’s record-breaking achievement.

The forward, who arrived at the club from Everton in 2004, moved clear of Sir Bobby Charlton as the Reds’ all-time leading scorer with his 250th goal in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Stoke.

And Young, who like Rooney is 31 years old, insists his team-mate has plenty more to offer in the years ahead because of the undoubted ability he still possesses to create decisive moments to change games.

He told ManUtd.com: “Of course he can. There’s plenty more goals to come from him. He is only 31, he has got plenty more years ahead of him. I’m sure the record is only going to get bigger and bigger and, if someone is going to try to break that, good luck!

“He can score goals from anywhere and anything. When you’ve got someone whose that influential in front of you, you just want to feed them and give them the ball because you know he can change a game in a matter of minutes.

“There’s a lot said about players in teams who are match-winners and he’s definitely one of them.”

Rooney has received widespread plaudits from across the football world after reaching the significant landmark – something Young feels won’t be surpassed in the near future.

“It’s an incredible achievement – what he’s done in the game has been unbelievable,” said Young.

“For him to get the record at a club like Man United is, like I say, incredible but not just for Man United he’s done it with England as well.

“I don’t think anyone will break it anytime soon – he’s got plenty of years ahead of him as well. The record is just going to be stretched and go further and further. It’s fantastic for him.”

Rooney has reserved a special place in United’s illustrious history but Young believes he has already held legendary status for a long time and praised the positive influence he has on everyone connected to the club.

“Obviously he’s broken Sir Bobby’s record and some think he may have only achieved legendary status now but he’s had that, in my opinion, for years,” said Young.

“He does his talking on the pitch, he’s passionate about football, you see that week in week out. We see that in training every day.

“As a captain you look after everyone and he does that to players, staff and everyone. He’s got the determination to be a winner and I think that’s instilled in you from when you’re born and you can see he’s got that fire in his belly and, like I say, he’s a winner.”

Young, who has also played with Rooney at international level, described how the skipper commands respect from his team-mates and how he helped him settle into life at United when arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2011.

“He’s not one of those players who talks a lot – he’s fairly quiet in the dressing room but when he does talk everyone listens,” explained Young, who recently made his 150th appearance in all competitions for the Reds.

“He’s got great things to say and he’s a great leader. For the youngsters he’s brilliant but even for us as senior players to work alongside him he’s got that aura about him that you feed off and you want to win. When you’re on his team in training and you don’t win, you soon hear about it! [Laughs]

“When I joined the club he was one of the first people who took me under his wing. We’d played for England before together but still for someone that influential to want to help you as soon as you walk through the door makes you feel at ease. He did that with me and I’ll be forever grateful for that.”