'He will know that the most unholy of receptions awaits him at Goodison Park on Saturday, but if Wayne Rooney wanted preparation for that FA Cup fifth-round return to his boyhood club, then his first derby day in the blue half of Manchester provided it. As a thousand City voices picked at his patience, not only did the teenager win the battle with his temper - he won the match as well.
At least 80 minutes had elapsed by the time Rooney first responded to the taunts that rolled down to him from the home support, and then all he offered them was a simple reminder of the score. Against Everton even that might prove the prelude to a riot. Against City, it was the last indignity for a home side who had seen their hopes dashed by a goal for the striker whose record now stands at six in eight matches.
It has been Rooney's goals that have forced United forward in their relentless pursuit of Chelsea, nine points clear at the top of the Premiership. Sir Alex Ferguson will have to decide this week whether on Saturday he will spare Rooney that short journey west down the M62 to the city that he will never be able to call home again. When he plays as he did yesterday, it is a monumental decision to leave him out.
There was one flash of temper in the first half when Rooney was booked for a bad tackle on Richard Dunne, but this was a match that asked much of the England striker's brittle patience.'
[With] Louis Saha fit for the visit to Everton and Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alan Smith both start full training this week. The United manager might not have the nine-point lead enjoyed by Chelsea but he does have the advantage of a squad that is approaching full strength. It will not make the decision to leave out Rooney any easier.'