Rooney's amazing exploits against Hull yesterday swept Manchester United to the summit of the Premier League - the third team in a week to hold the top spot - and took him to within a hat-trick of his best-ever seasonal tally as a professional.
Almost immediately, the 24-year-old began looking forward to a crunch week that starts with the eagerly-awaited Carling Cup decider with Manchester City on Wednesday before United visit Arsenal for what would be a first-versus-second Premier League blockbuster if present positions remain unaltered.
Ferguson knows he needs his talisman. Back home in Italy where he is recovering from knee surgery, Fabio Capello will glory in Rooney's achievements whilst secretly wishing his number one striker could take a break.
"I am sure the two of them have different ideas for me for the rest of the season," smiled Rooney, after the fourth hat-trick of his United career and the second this term.
"But I want to play and whenever I am asked to play I will.
"Even when the manager (Ferguson) tells me when he is giving me a rest I will want to play. But I will have to be sensible."
What would be good for Capello is impossible for Ferguson.
There is no chance of Ferguson taking Rooney out of the firing line for a prolonged period given his importance to United at present.
When Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid last summer, Ferguson questioned where United were going to get the additional 30 goals the former world player of the year was virtually guaranteed to get.
Rooney is supplying them, just as he felt would happen.
"I am a confident person," he said.
"I have had responsibility on me since I signed so it was not extra pressure.
"When Cristiano left I knew I would have to score more goals.
"As a team we are doing that. Everybody is chipping in and, so far, we have scored more than last season."
Source: Manchester Evening News
Source: M.E.N.