Manchester United's new signing Wayne Rooney has admitted he might not end his first season at old Trafford with a championship medal.

The 18-year-old, who completed his £27million move to United on Tuesday, is relishing the prospect of contesting for major honours with his new club as they renew their battle with champions Arsenal and big-spending Chelsea.

However, he has hinted that, after a start to the season which sees Alex Ferguson's side ninth in the table and seven points adrift of the top two already, the title might be beyond them.

"We've got some good young players at the club and providing we can all grow together in the team, I think we'll eventually come good again," he said.

"It's a big challenge for us and we might not win the league this season; it might take two or three years. But I really think we're capable of matching both Arsenal and Chelsea."

Rooney's move to United will eventually see him link up with Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, and with Rio Ferdinand nearing the end of his ban, Ferguson has star players waiting on the sidelines to re-ignite his side's challenge at home and in Europe.

That is a prospect which excites the new arrival. "That was the thing that really made my mind up about leaving Everton, to be honest," he said.

"Going out to Portugal (for Euro 2004) was a big experience for me and after doing as well as did out there, I felt I had moved my game on and I wanted to be playing in the Champions League.

"I think it will be a different type of challenge and a difficult one too because you'll be up against the top players in Europe.

"But that's what every player relishes; they want to challenge themselves and play against the best players, and hopefully we can go out there and win it."

The prospect of linking up with the likes of van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes is one which naturally excites Rooney, and he is confident he can learn from them too.

"I'm very excited," he said. "There's a really good squad of players here who are all top players. I hope I can gel as quickly as possible and become one of those players as well.

"They've all got great experience of playing at the top level and playing in the Champions League, so I think I'll be able to learn a lot from them, and if I need any advice, hopefully I'll be able to go and speak to them."