Goalscorer Preview - Birmingham City v Manchester United: Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney is a good bet to score that elusive first goal from open play this season against Birmingham City.

It’s widely acknowledged that Rooney has been struggling for form this season with only two goals to his name and both of them being penalties. However, he has put in good performances against Arsenal and Sunderland recently and looks to be getting sharper with every game.

Rooney has been playing in the United attack alongside Dimitar Berbatov who has been scoring goals for fun. The pair have formed a great relationship in a 4-4-2 formation that Sir Alex Ferguson has very little reason to change.

Rooney makes the system a lot more flexible because he has the ability to play in the midfield. He is the best passer out of all the strikers at the club and this makes him more creative than any other forward when he does drop off.

Rooney could lead a 4-5-1 formation but this is unlikely due to the goal drought he is experiencing, Berbatov’s form and Birmingham’s current league position. However, he is still one of the strongest and most intimidating players to play against in the Premier League.

In the last few games Rooney has started to find a little more space, which has been opened up by other players. He’s very good at ghosting into space, which gives him more time to think out and place passes and shots. This was evident in the match against Sunderland when he chipped the goalkeeper and missed the far post by a matter of inches.

A goal for Rooney is not too far away and it’s important to keep backing him because he is going to score at some point. Once that first goal from open play this season hits the back of the net, it won’t be a surprise to anyone if Rooney goes on a long goalscoring streak that extends well into the New Year.

Rooney is currently 7/5 to score at any point during this match and 5/1 to score the first goal of the game.