Wayne Rooney has sounded an ominous warning to Manchester United's rivals by declaring they are about to hit top form.
England striker relishing upcoming fixtures against rivals
Wayne Rooney has sounded an ominous warning to Manchester United's rivals by declaring they are about to hit top form.
Rooney, 26, who is now in his seventh season at Old Trafford, knows exactly how they are drilled so that they hit their peak in the New Year.
United dispatched Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday and now face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in what will be a powder-keg FA Cup fourth-round clash.
It will be followed by Premier League encounters against Stoke, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham over the coming weeks.
However, with United just three points behind Manchester City, the former Everton starlet insists he and his colleagues are ready for the test ahead.
"We relish this part of the season," he said.
Focused
"Once we get into the New Year we can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Every game is massive and we don't want to be dropping points.
"But I always feel we are at our best around now because we can see the end of the season and that there are trophies there to be won.
"That's why we stay focused and, more often than not, we're always there at the end."
United are currently enjoying a period where they are playing just one game a week over the next three-week period.
Sir Alex Ferguson's squad has been blighted by injuries this term, however, Rooney believes their energy reserves are being replenished because of the break in between matches.
"It's been quite an unusual period in that we've only had one game a week," he added.
Difficult
"We have got some good training in and that will benefit us going into the next few games."
Rooney was introduced from the bench when United met Liverpool in October but Ferguson is unlikely to repeat that with so much local pride at stake.
For United's leading scorer, the game against their fierce rivals is the kind top professionals hate to miss out on.
"They are all difficult games but these are the matches you want to play in," said the former Everton player.
"The next three or four weeks will be exciting. We understand and know what we have to do.
"We need to prepare ourselves the best way we can and hopefully get the results we need."
