Man Utd hero Cole backing Rooney to overtake Ronaldo record

Manchester United legend Andy Cole says Wayne Rooney can overtake Cristiano Ronaldo's 42 goals record.

Rooney’s well-taken brace against Fulham on Sunday took him to 32 for the season and he has a possible 13 more games in which to overhaul the Portuguese winger's 2007/08 tally.

“Wayne’s priority will be trying to win the Premier League again, and to fire United to another European Cup, so it won’t be top of his agenda,” Cole told ManUtd.com.

“But there are eight league games to go and if he keeps scoring at his current rate, he’s got a great chance.”

Rooney has hit 24 goals in the last 22 games of United’s three-pronged trophy assault. And as a former striker himself, it’s apparent to Cole that the Reds’ number 10 is playing with supreme confidence – an ominous sign for any opposition defence.

Cole said: “It’s hard to know what else to say about the boy! He must go out there every game, look at who he’s up against and believe he has a good chance of scoring.

“It’s great to go into games thinking that, because football is all about confidence, especially for strikers.

“He’s playing some great football and has been very consistent. He’s in a fantastic vein of form and long may it continue.”