Matching Charlton beyond my imagination, says Rooney

Wayne Rooney said he could never have imagined equalling Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United scoring record after bagging his 249th goal for the club in his side’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday.

The 31-year-old, who joined United from Everton in 2004, opened the scoring in the seventh minute to move alongside Charlton who was watching on from the stands at Old Trafford.

He will have to wait for another day to surpass the former England World Cup winner, however, after failing to add to his tally in a one-sided match.

“It is a proud moment. To do it at such a massive club like Manchester United, I am hugely honoured and it is really proud moment for me,” Rooney said.

“It was not something I could have imagined. You don’t think that far ahead, but I have been at this club a long time, it is a huge part of my life and it is an honour to be up there alongside Sir Bobby.

“You want to do records in front of your home fans and we have got two home games coming up and hopefully I can get the next one in one of those.”

Rooney, who surpassed Charlton’s England scoring record of 49 goals in 2015, has enjoyed a glittering career at Old Trafford since scoring a Champions League hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahce in a 6-2 win in 2004.

He has been an integral part of five Premier League title-winning teams, one Champions League triumph, an FA Cup and two League Cups. Rooney was named PFA player of the year in 2009-10.

What is more he has matched Charlton’s record, which has stood since 1973, in 215 less games, reaching double figures in every season and managing 34 goals in 2009-10 and 2011-12.

England skipper Rooney, however, has not been an automatic selection under new manager Jose Mourinho.

“A more special day will arrive. It was great but I want one more goal,” Mourinho said.

“He is an amazing guy in the group and we all want him to do that. To have Wayne as the top scorer in a club like this is magnificent for him.”

Although poised to become the club’s record scorer, Rooney’s goals have not come at the fastest rate.

His strikes have come at the rate of 0.45 per game, putting him eighth on United’s all-time list headed by Tommy Taylor.