Aston Villa 0 Manchester Utd 2:Wayne Rooney has never been slow to grasp the idea that first impressions count. Those who remember his opening appearance for Manchester United, when he scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahce, will recall Alex Ferguson admitting it was as good a debut as he had seen. There was not the time to reach those exhilarating heights here but Rooney needed only 20 minutes to overshadow the nine other England hopefuls on show.
Fabio Capello, watching his first match in England since replacing Steve McClaren, departed Villa Park with the name of the United substitute uppermost in his mind. The Italian is understood to have been hugely impressed by Rooney's contribution on a night when Rio Ferdinand, outstanding in central defence, and Gareth Barry, eclipsing another England contender, Michael Carrick, with an assured performance in midfield, also did their international prospects no harm.
It was Rooney, though, who provided the lasting memories. He had come close to giving United the lead in breathtaking fashion when he swapped passes with Cristiano Ronaldo in the 80th minute but swept over after racing into the penalty area.
Moments later he was involved in the build-up that led to Ronaldo bundling in Ryan Giggs's cross; and with a minute remaining he dispatched a 20-yard shot past Scott Carson's outstretched right hand.
"I have been trying to find a new Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a substitute - although I don't think Wayne would appreciate that," laughed Ferguson.
"Wayne changed the game when he came on. He brought us thrust and enthusiasm and direct play. He attacked defenders and made a heck of a difference."
Capello and Ferguson were not the only admirers of Rooney.
"He created two or three chances when I could see he did a 40- or 50-yard sprint to get in the box," said John Carew, the Aston Villa striker. "A player like that is worth gold. He missed one chance but his run from midfield was unbelievable. Not many forwards would even think about that and on the [ second] goal he did it again.
"They should call Rooney Braveheart because he is playing with a big heart. You can count on one hand the players who work as hard as him."
Carew, who played under Capello at Roma, suggested, "Fabio will look to build his team around Rooney."
Capello has in the past tended to put the group before the individual but there can be little doubt that, fitness allowing, Rooney will be leading the line against Switzerland at Wembley next month.
Others might have to be more patient; Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young failed to show their best form here.
Young seemed to meet his match in Wes Brown, who was also aided by United's efforts to double up on the Villa winger - "That was a fantastic compliment to Ashley after one season in the Premier League," said Martin O'Neill - while Agbonlahor, a few glimpses of his searing pace apart, struggled to trouble the excellent central pairing of Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Indeed Edwin van der Sar did not have a save to make.
In truth there had not been much action at the opposite end until Rooney's introduction, and Capello, familiar with defence-oriented Serie A matches, must have felt quite at home.
Not that Carson could take any credit for the tightness of the game. The Villa goalkeeper seemed unsteady throughout and Giggs, steering wide from six yards, ought to have punished one handling error.
That wastefulness might have proved costly on another day but United's record at Villa Park - this was their 11th straight win here - portended only one outcome, much to O'Neill's frustration.
"We have players with a lot of potential who are getting better but the litmus test is playing Man United in a Cup competition or in the league," said Villa's manager. "What happens is we play Manchester United, we put big effort into it and they beat us."
