Rio Ferdinand has backed Wayne Rooney to emerge from the giant shadow cast by Cristiano Ronaldo's exploits and become Manchester United's star player.
Ronaldo's 67-goal heroics over two seasons forced Rooney to play a supporting role to the man who took star billing at United until his £80million move to Real Madrid this summer.
But defender Ferdinand claimed Ronaldo's move could prove the making of Rooney and see the 23-year-old fulfil his potential as one of the finest strikers in world football. "One thing I'm sure of is that Ronaldo going will bring the best out in our players," said Ferdinand.
"We know he scored a lot of goals in the last two seasons for us, but we've got players like Wayne who we know are capable of doing that.
"Other people are going to have to take responsibility because there are goals that have gone out of our team that need to be made up. Wayne is such a team player and gives himself to the team that he loses that selfishness other forwards have got.
"But would I want Wayne to score 25 or 30 goals this season and us not win a trophy? I don't think so.
"Wayne offers more as a team player and that's important. He's an instinctive player and if you have 10 or 11 robots you won't be successful."
Although Rooney managed 20 goals last season, he did so playing out of position for much of the campaign, deployed wide to accommodate Ronaldo's unique threat through the middle.
This season, however, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to restore Rooney to his favoured role as an orthodox striker, where he is at his most dangerous.
"We haven't spoken about it but I'm sure that's where I'll play," said Rooney. "Everyone knows it's my best position.
"I enjoy it more than being out on the flanks. It's less work, you get more chances to score and as a forward that's what you want."
Ferdinand admitted he was stunned at Fergie's capture of Michael Owen for free, but claimed the United boss may have pulled off another masterstroke by signing the 29-year-old.
"Initially I was surprised we signed Michael," said Rio. "But I looked at his stats and he played a lot more games than I thought in the last two seasons.
"In my head I was thinking about it like a fan and weighing it up, but after seeing him in training and in two games I'm very confident we've signed the right type of player.
"You can understand why the manager has put faith in him. He's a great goalscorer and he just needs the ball delivered into dangerous areas."
Despite Ronaldo's departure and the loss of his commanding on-field presence, Ferdinand insisted United still have enough quality to remain the Premier League's dominant force.
No team has ever won the title four times in a row and Ferdinand said the formidable squad of players Ferguson has assembled gives United the edge over their rivals.
"That longevity and time we've had together as a squad to learn each other's games and personalities is a big weapon, and one we have to use," he said.
"We've got a great mentality at the club, winning three titles on the bounce. That says it all, in that as people and players we have the mentality of winners, we want to win all the time.
"I'd probably say we'll be a lot more compact as a team now with Cristiano gone.
"His talent allowed him to be left further up the field than some other players in that position because you knew what you'd get out of him when the ball got to him.
"So I'd say we'll be more compact in midfield and harder to break down, but we have to keep that same potency up front."
Ferdinand admitted much more will be expected of United's emerging young players next season, the likes of Anderson, Nani, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson and Federico Macheda.
Anderson has yet to score in 74 appearances for United, while Nani featured in only 13 Premier League games last season, with the jury still out on both. Welbeck has been tipped by Fergie to gatecrash England's World Cup squad next summer, while Gibson and Macheda will play bigger roles when the new campaign starts.
"Those younger players are getting better every year," said Ferdinand. "We've seen glimpses of the talent they've got.
"But it's about showing that whenever they're given the chance by the manager. I'm sure that's what they'll be aiming for and what the manager will be demanding.
"That's the encouraging thing - I know there's so much more to come from our younger players like Anderson, Nani, Macheda, Welbeck, Gibson and Jonny Evans.
"There is much more to come from each of those players in the next couple of years or so...they'll be like new signings."
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