Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Wayne Rooney to fill the goalscoring void left by former Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid's Galactico gravy train earlier this summer for a world record £80 million, lead the line for United in spectacular fashion throughout his stay at Old Trafford.
The Portugal international scored 117 times in 289 appearances for the Red Devils, and was the club's leading marksman for the past three seasons - finding the net on 66 occasions compared to Rooney's 38 during the same period.
Despite the statistical disparity, Ferguson is convinced that Rooney, who will play as an out and out centre-forward during the forthcoming campaign, can step up to the mark.
"I don't think the responsibility of getting more goals will trouble Wayne at all," Ferguson told reporters ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Wembley.
"He's got the mental strength for all that kind of thing. He's proved that time and time again.
"He will be used as a central striker this season. He goes on these bursts of goals.
"Last season I think he hit seven in a row at one point - but if he can do that more consistently over the season he will get to 25 and above.
"But Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo.
"I don't think you can compare them, they are such different types."
Rooney, 23, has admitted that he is fully aware of the pressure set to placed upon his ever maturing shoulders.
The England international is however adamant that he is aiming to make this season one to remember, especially with the added incentive of a World Cup finals adventure next year.
"For me personally, next season could be the season that transforms me from someone who could be a great player into someone who is a great player," he told The Times newspaper.
"That's what I'm hoping. It's a massive season for the club and for me personally, with the prize at the end of it being the World Cup.
"It's a season which I want to grab with both hands."
With such a pivotal season looming large on the horizon, Rooney, whose robust approach to the beautiful game has periodically landed him in hot water, is also determined to continue giving his all for club and country, even if things don't always go according to plan.
"The older you get, the more you try to set a good example rather than a bad example," he explained.
"On the pitch I'm a competitor and when you're playing in the biggest league in the world, especially when I was starting at such a young age, there are a lot of emotions.
"I've worked on that. Sometimes I get a booking or do something and it's all over the papers or on the news or whatever. I see other players doing ten times worse and nothing is mentioned. But I understand it.
"That's the way I've been brought up. I've been brought up to try to do the best I can in everything I do.
"I don't think I've ever come off the pitch and thought that I hadn't done the best I could have done. Sometimes it goes to plan and sometimes it doesn't, but I've never come off the pitch thinking I didn't give my best and I don't think I ever will."
United's defence of their Barclays Premier League campaign will get underway next Sunday when they entertain Alex McLeish's newly promoted Birmingham City at Old Trafford.
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