Fergie backing Roo to progress

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will be seeing the best of Wayne Rooney in two years' time.

Rooney is currently entering his sixth season with the Red Devils after joining from Everton for £25.6million in 2004.

Although the striker has enjoyed great success at Old Trafford he is yet to establish himself as Sir Alex Ferguson's premier striker.

Ferguson believes there will be greater expectation on Rooney's shoulder this season, not only due to Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo's departures, but because it is a World Cup year.

Rooney is a certainty for Fabio Capello's England squad for next summer's finals if the Three Lions qualify and Ferguson believes there is more improvement to come from the 23-year-old.
Expectation

"There will be an expectation about Wayne Rooney this season purely because he is English," Ferguson said.

"Without question he is the main striker that England's hopes will be pinned on at the World Cup, so that is where the expectation is all coming from.

"But I would like to see the boy develop his game in a lot of departments.

"He is 23 now. You will get the maturity when he gets to 25. Then there will be a more consistent nature to his game."

Maturity

Ferguson has acknowledged Rooney needs to add consistency to his scoring, although he believes with maturity he will deliver with more regularity.

"A lot of players go on little runs of scoring three or four in a row, then they have a couple of weeks off, come back and score five in a row," he continued.

"Wayne has periods like that. He has a little bit to do to get rid of it. That is where the maturity side has to come into it.

"He has the hunger and the natural ability to do a lot of these things. All he has to do is show the maturity to get there."

Owen on song for United

Manchester United yesterday won their second match of their pre-season tour of the Far East, and new signing Michael Owen was again on the scoresheet as a Malaysian XI were dispatched 2-0 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpar this afternoon.

United boss Alex Ferguson fielded an entirely revamped side for the club's second game against a Malaysian XI inside three days, with Owen named in the starting line-up for the first time in his Old Trafford career.

Ferguson's men wasted little time before going into the lead, with a cross form the left deflected by young Italian striker Federico Macheda into the path of Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher, who could have shot himself, but instead pulled the ball back for Macheda to finish with confidence from just inside the six-yard box.

That was in the eleventh minute, and two minutes later they doubled their advantage. Serbian starlet Zoran Tosic found himself in acres of space on the left and picked out a carefully placed cross to Macheda in the box.

The Italian missed the ball at the near post, but the Malaysian defence panicked, and Owen, showing the predator's instinct for which he is renowned, pounced to slot in from close range.

That was the striker's second of the tour, and it looked as though he would get even more after hitting the post from another Tosic centre in the 33rd minute.

However, the Mancunians' momentum flattened out somewhat as the game moved on, with the biggest cheer of the second half being reserved for the appearance of Wayne Rooney. The Liverpudlian almost scored within two minutes of his 64th minute entrance, fastening onto a long-ball from the back, before putting a low effort past the keeper's left-hand post.

Overall it was a workmanlike performance from Ferguson's men, who resisted a late flurry of pressure from the hosts, but the victory will ease any lingering anxiety caused by the weekend's somewhat lacklustre display against the same opposition.

Jakarta Bombs: United cancel trip

Manchester United have cancelled Saturday's match against an Indonesia Super League XI in Jakarta following today's bomb attacks.

The blasts affected two hotels, one of which, the Ritz-Carlton, was the hotel United were supposed to be staying in tomorrow night after leaving the first game of their four-match tour in Kuala Lumpur.United now have the option to remain in Malaysia for a few extra days or travel up to Seoul for what should have been the third leg of their trip next Friday.

However, there might also be reservations among the players - many of whom have young families - about being so far away from home and pressure might be applied to go straight back to the UK.

United chief executive David Gill is on the tour and he will no doubt be left to make the final decision, whatever that may be.

Details of the attacks, which were carried out at the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, were still sketchy this morning.

United swoop for striker

Manchester United have confirmed that they have completed the signing of striker Mame Biram Diouf from Norwegian club Molde FK.

The 21-year-old has been immediately loaned back to Molde where he will remain until January.

The transfer may surprise some after manager Sir Alex Ferguson stressed just last week that he would not be making any more signings this summer following the arrivals of Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan.

However, the Red Devils boss admitted that after other clubs lodged bids for the Senegalese youngster the Premier League champions had to act fast.

"We signed a young player yesterday from Norway who we've been looking at for two years," he told the club's official website.
Final summer signing

"We weren't intending on signing anyone else after last week - we feel we have a full squad - but the situation accelerated to a point where other clubs started to make bids.

"So we had to decide whether we acted or didn't. We decided to act and he'll be the last person we sign."

Diouf has reportedly interested the likes of Arsenal, Ajax and PSV in the past while Tottenham are thought to be one of the clubs who tabled a bid for the frontman.

Attention in the youngster developed last weekend when Diouf netted a hat-trick in the first nine minutes of a Norwegian league clash against Brann before he added another in a 5-2 win.

The new United arrival has scored 30 league goals from 62 games since signing for Molde, the same club United signed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from, in 2007.

Potential

Molde manager Kjell Jonevret is confident Diouf has the potential to succeed at Old Trafford and was delighted that the player would remain for the remainder of the Norwegian season.

"This is fun for all of us in Molde, fun for Mame and not least for his family in Senegal," he told VG Nett.

"That he will stay with us for the rest of the season is really important to us.

"Mame is an interesting player that I have worked with for two years. I don't know what plans United have for him, but he has a great potential.

"Mame is good now, but he can be even better."

Hargreaves eyes Sept return

Owen Hargreaves is aiming to hand Manchester United a boost in January as he steps up his rehabilitation from double knee surgery.

The England international has endured a miserable past 12 months after undergoing two operations to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since his Bayern Munich days.

Although Hargreaves is to play no part in United's pre-season tour of the Far East he is expected to join up with his team-mates in Munich for the Audi Cup at the end of July.

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy with how Hargreaves' rehabilitation has gone to date and is quietly confident his injury nightmare could soon be behind him.

"I think we are looking at the end of September depending on how he reacts," said Ferguson.

"We are happy with his rehabilitation so far and while he won't be ready to play in Munich, he will be able to train."

Owen - Utd to reignite career

Michael Owen is eager to put his 'poor spell' at Newcastle United behind him by scoring goals and lifting silverware at his new club Manchester United.

The England international sealed his shock free transfer to the Red Devils on Friday after passing a medical and then signing a two-year contract.

Owen endured a difficult time at St James' Park, where he signed from Real Madrid in 2005, netting just 26 Premier League goals in four years.

The 29-year-old is excited about the next chapter in his career as he looks to recapture his best form and help United continue their winning ways.

He told MUTV: "It feels great. I never even had it in my wildest dreams really but then I got the call from the manager to come and meet him.
Shock

"It was a shock but I'm obviously really happy and things have moved quickly since then.

"I probably had a poor spell up at Newcastle but prior to that, my career was very good and I'm sure a top club like this can reignite my career. Hopefully I can score a few goals and help the team to more success.

"It's early days but when you think about United, you automatically think about winning trophies, the stadium, the massive fanbase."

Fitness

Owen also rejected suggestions that he is injury prone, stressing that he passed his United medical without any complications.

He added: "A lot is made of it and probably a lot will come out in the coming months and years but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised at how my medical was. I knew I would pass my medical, I've obviously passed them before. My fitness is fine."

Owen seals shock Utd move

Manchester United have confirmed the shock capture of striker Michael Owen.

The England forward was available on a free transfer after his contract at Newcastle United expired at the end of June.

A number of sides were interested in signing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid attacker, but United emerged as favourites to secure his signature.

The 29-year-old underwent a medical in Manchester on Friday and has now sealed his move to the Premier League champions, inking a two-year deal.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson told the club's official website: "Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question.
Fantastic opportunity

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen said: "I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him the next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me. I agreed without a moment's thought.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

"I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here. I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one.

"I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances"