Goal-shy Wayne Rooney is feeling the pressure at Man United but vows to get his spark back

Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last nine competitive games for Manchester United

WAYNE ROONEY admits he is struggling to find his goal touch but is confident it hasn't deserted him forever.

 

Rooney has gone nine competitive club games for Manchester United without finding the net - six last season and three this campaign - prompting suggestions he has lost his spark in front of goal.

After vowing to score 25 to 30 goals this season, provided he is played as an out-and-out striker by Louis Van Gaal, he knows the pressure is building for him to get off the mark.

He was substituted for the first time by Van Gaal in the Champions League qualifier against Bruges on Tuesday then saw his replacement, Marouane Fellaini, head United's vital third goal.

 



Rooney was substituted by United manager Louis Van Gaal in their Champions League qualifier



But the United and England captain insists he has no issue with Van Gaal's decision to bench him and is drawing on his experience of going through several similar barren spells in his career at Old Trafford.

"I'm an honest guy, I know when I haven't played well and against Aston Villa [last Friday] I was below my standards and I know that," he said.

"I've had one bad game this season and everyone's all over it. Obviously I lost the ball too easily a lot of times and I'm aware of that. It's not a game I'll want to look back on but obviously you have games like that and you have to move on.

 

"I had a much better game against Bruges, could have got a goal or two, but that's football. Everyone will write about [not scoring] at the end of last season and the beginning of this season but I've had that [criticism] throughout my career.

"It's still early in the season, we're only played three games, so it's down to me to keep going. It would be nice to get off the mark but I've experienced this before and the goals will come, I know that, and I'm confident I'm still capable of getting 20-plus goals this season.

"Am I bothered about being replaced? No, of course not. You want to play the games obviously, but 'Felly' [Fellaini] gives us a different style, in terms of getting the ball in the box earlier and trying to push for that goal, late doors, which has obviously paid off for us.

"I had a couple of half-chances against Bruges, with the header in the first half, and a couple I was reaching for, especially early on with the cross from Adnan [Januzaj]. I just have to keep putting myself in the right positions and hopefully one will come."

 

It is not Rooney's worst run for United. He went 12 games without a goal in 2005-06 and had a dry spell of nine matches as recently as last season. He has also often been a slow starter, taking six games to get off the mark in 2008-09 and again 2012-13.

But with United so far failing to replace Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, Rooney accepts he is expected to be United's main source of goals this season and remains convinced he will deliver, denying his spells in midfield may have dulled his cutting edge.

"My mind's clear," he added. "I know how to play the role. It's just a case of getting the chances and taking them, which I'm hopeful I'm going to do soon.

"I don't feel extra pressure. I always set myself standards and I try to reach them. We all have to chip in though. Memphis [Depay] has chipped in with two goals, and 'Felly' has come on and got a goal. But I understand obviously it's on me to get the goals and I need to be the one that leads the line."

Rooney has a good record against Newcastle, United's next opponents on Saturday, but said: "I had a good record against Villa as well! I obviously enjoy playing against Newcastle so hopefully on Saturday I can get off the mark and open my scoring for the season."