Roon to call the tune

Premiership champions Manchester United commence their title defence at the Theatre Of Dreams on Sunday when they will be playing host to last season's surprise package Reading, who gave the Red Devils a real run for their money in this corresponding fixture last term, in which they lost no caste in defeat in being beaten 3-2. In a tremendous first season in the top flight since the inauguration of the Premier League, Steve Coppell's charges finished eighth in the pecking order, a fine achievement considering their comparatively sparse resources. However, things will be even tougher for the Berkshire club in 2007/08 following the notable departures of Greg Halford and Steve Sidwell during the summer. Conversely, the champs have strengthened their squad significantly, with the arrival of £18m signing Anderson, the winger Nani from Sporting Lisbon, midfield maestro Owen Hargreaves and the terrier-like Carlos Tevez, who finally signed following a protracted saga which saw his agents and West Ham arguing the toss over ownership of the Argentinean striker. Looking at it objectively, it's hard to envisage even Chelsea being able to punch pound for pound with the Mancunians this season. Indeed, United already boast arguably the best player in the world in the shape of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, who is incontrovertibly one of the best strikers in the game today. They ooze class in every area of the park and will be the team to beat in every competition in my opinion. I have no doubt that Reading will make United earn their corn once again on Sunday but they haven't beaten the Red Devils since an FA Cup match in January 1927 and it'd be a major surprise if they were to beat them at Old Trafford. I can see Sir Alex Louis Saha is still on the sidelines - he'll be given the name 'sick note' a la Darren Anderton before long - and Tevez is, although available for selection, unlikely to be in the starting XI. Consequently, it seems likely that Giggs will accompany Rooney up front and, in a season that I predict Rooney's star will shine brighter than ever, the 'boy wonder' is taken to steal the show in United's curtain-raising fixture. At 9/2 with Extrabet backing Rooney to score first is a must-bet. He experienced a bit of a drought last season but still ended the campaign as the club's joint top league goalscorer with 23 strikes alongside Ronaldo. The 22-year-old has looked sharp in pre-season and he'll be fired up for this encounter. Verdict: 1pt Rooney first goalscorer @ 9/2 (Extrabet)