Ferguson hails 'special' Rooney

Ferguson felt his side should have scored more against Newcastle

Sir Alex Ferguson saluted Wayne Rooney after his two-goal salvo against Newcastle - but felt the England striker should have had a hat-trick.

The Manchester United boss saw his side beat the Magpies 2-0 thanks to two goals in four minutes by Rooney.

Ferguson said: "How Wayne has not ended up with the match ball I do not know.

"It was a marvellous performance. He does not just take chances, he creates them himself with his skill and tenacity. That marks him as special."

United had 28 shots at the Newcastle goal during the game and Ferguson knows his side should have scored more.

Together with Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney is my favourite Premiership striker - I just wish we had him Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder Report: Man Utd 2-0 Newcastle

"It sounds glib to say we should have had 10 but we have missed some unbelievable chances," said Ferguson.

"It was a fantastic performance but we could have done with the third goal because one for them would have changed the whole picture."

Newcastle caretaker manager Glenn Roeder agreed that Rooney had been in unstoppable form.

He said: "The beauty of football is you get so much scientific information on players and think you have a way to stop them, someone does something like that.

"Wayne cannot yet have come anywhere near fulfilling his potential. In three or four years, there is every chance he could be number one in the world.

"Together with Thierry Henry, he is my favourite Premiership striker. I just wish we had him."

The only plus point for Roeder was the return of Kieron Dyer from his latest hamstring problem.

"We have increased the intensity of his training and after speaking to him yesterday, we decided it would make sense to put him on the bench with a view to getting him on for 25 to 30 minutes," Roeder said.

"We have done that and Kieron has said afterwards he was fine."