Wayne Rooney is desperate for a win against Roma - to help Manchester United to Champions League Glory.

"I am desperate to get off the mark," said Wayne.

"It has been a disappointing start for myself getting injured. But I am happy to be back playing and have played three games now and hopefully I can start scoring again and help the team win."

Cristiano Ronaldo struck five minutes after half-time to give Manchester United victory at Birmingham and move them second in the Premier League.

United lost keeper Edwin van der Sar through injury at half-time and had to survive a spirited Birmingham display.

Sir Alex Ferguson was also able to look back with satisfaction on a 70-minute appearance by Wayne Rooney.

The England striker has not played since breaking his foot on the opening day of the season but now seems certain to figure against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

"It was difficult for Wayne, having to play up front on his own," he said.

Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo admits he came of age as a footballer after his World Cup row with teammate Wayne Rooney.

Referring to the famous match in which he had a hand in having Rooney sent off, Ronaldo told Hello! Magazine: "After the match, I was criticised and whistled at.

Gary Neville hopes United can now go on a long winning run, with Louis Saha making a goalscoring return against Sunderland, Cristiano Ronaldo now free from suspension and Wayne Rooney’s comeback from injury reportedly not far off.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney is back in training this week after recovering from a metatarsal injury.

"He's started training which is good. I'd not have brought him back to training unless he was ready," said Ferguson.

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez says he cannot wait to start his Manchester United forward partnership with Wayne Rooney.

The two highly-rated strikers have not yet played together, but reports of Rooney's imminent return from injury have led Tevez to declare his excitement at the partnership.

Wayne Rooney wants to play for Manchester United this weekend against Everton.

The Sun says Rooney last night told boss Alex Ferguson he is raring to return against his old club Everton on Saturday.

Manchester United striker Rooney, 21, has been sidelined after breaking his metatarsal on the opening day of the season.

But he has been out of plaster for a fortnight and training hard.

Eight United players have been named among the top 100 footballers in the world in a list compiled by FourFourTwo magazine.

Cristiano Ronaldo, United's outstanding player in the title-winning 2007/08 campaign, was pipped to first place by AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who was the key figure in the Italian side's Champions League success last term.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are close friends, and even the extent Rooney was willing to go to to help get the Press off Cristiano's back!

"Wayne phoned me on the day of the World Cup final and said he had a great idea. He suggested he could do a TV interview with Ronaldo and they could show everything was fine.