David Weir is thrilled to see former Everton teammate Wayne Rooney fulfilling his potential at Manchester United.

Rangers defender Weir feels Rooney will replace Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the World Player of the Year - and fire United to more Premiership and Champions League glory.

He told the Scottish Sun: "I took my two sons to Old Trafford to watch the Milan game. They will not forget that occasion.

"They are football-mad and Wayne Rooney is one of the players they look up to. Since Cristiano Ronaldo left United, Wayne seems to have taken on more responsibility.

"He is not just a great goalscorer - although I know that some people only judge strikers in those terms, but 31 goals this season already prove he's passed that test. However, he is a great all-round player.

"If you asked him to play left back, he would probably make himself the best left back at the club. If there was a seed of doubt in anyone's mind about his ability to deliver on the biggest occasions of all, he did it twice against AC Milan.

"How many people get four goals in two games against them? This could be the perfect year for Wayne.

"He has the Champions League and Premier League with United and the World Cup with England - three big prizes and he's capable of winning everything. The kind of form Wayne is in right now, he is unplayable.

"If he makes his mark this year, he'll go down in history.

"Messi did that last year, on the back of Barcelona's great form. They won everything and Messi rightly got the World Player of the Year.

"Wayne is in front of everyone right now."