With 27 goals already, Rooney is enjoying his most prolific season in a United shirt and is hoping his form continues to the end of the season. He did admit though that it’s frustrating being substituted when chasing a hat trick, but that he understands the manager’s reasons for doing so.

“I am just enjoying playing and scoring goals,” he told Sky Sports.

“Hopefully it continues but I have never really set targets.”

Asked if it’s frustrating to be brought off, he said: “A little bit but you can understand the manager’s thinking and I’ve no problems with that tonight.”

Rooney also praised fellow goalscorer Michael Owen, who scored United’s third after replacing Dimitar Berbatov. The former Liverpool and Newcastle striker has made just two starts since scoring a hat trick away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League, but Rooney still believes he’ll have a big part to play in the title run in and in Europe.

“It was a great run and great finish and I’m pleased for him because he hasn’t played a lot of football, especially over the last few months, but he showed what he can do.

“He’ll be a big player for us between now and the end of the season. We know what he gives to the team and he’s a great player for us.”

After missing out on last season’s Carling Cup final victory against Tottenham through illness, Rooney is hoping Sir Alex names him in his squad to face Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday.

“Obviously I missed it last year because I was a bit ill before the game so I didn’t play but hopefully I can play this year,” he said.

Neville – 7 One of his better performances recently. West Ham’s reluctance to attack left Neville free to get forward and he did, to good effect.

Brown – 7 Nothing to trouble him.

Vidic – 7 Dominant aerially, but like Brown was never really troubled.

Evra – 6 Still looks tired and didn’t contribute an awful lot going forward, but put in some good tackles to keep West Ham quiet down his flank.

Valencia – 8 A constant threat down the right wing. His pace was too much for the poor West Ham defence and he set up both of Rooney’s goals.

Gibson – 7 Threatened to open the scoring on several occasions in the first half and passed the ball well. Drifted out of the game towards the end.

Scholes – 7 It was all too easy for him. He was given so much time on the ball that he was able to dictate the tempo of the game.

Anderson – 5 Subbed of early on with an injury. Didn’t look good.

Berbatov – 7 Involved in a lot of the build up play and takes a huge slice of credit for both of Rooney’s goals. He fed Valencia who in turn fed Rooney.

Rooney – 9 Man of the match. He’s making this goalscoring lark look easy. Another two headed goals from the lad and a dominating display to match.

Subs:

Park – 7 Came on to good effect for the injured Anderson. Kept possession well and put in some good tackles to win it back.

Owen – 6 Scored within moments of coming on. Not much else to report.

Diouf – 5 No impact.

The Champions will be hoping to bounce back in style after the disappointing result at Goodison Park, by beating a West Ham side currently just 4 points above the relegation zone.

United are expected to welcome Rio Ferdinand back into the starting lineup after serving his 4 match ban for violent conduct, alongside Nemanja Vidic who has been absent with a nerve problem. The pair will bring much needed composure to the back line after recent nervy performances by stand-ins Wes Brown and Jonny Evans.

West Ham come to Old Trafford on the back of successive victories against Hull and Birmingham, but boss Gianfranco Zola has hinted that he may make changes.

United are clear favourites for the game, as usual at Old Trafford, but also because West Ham haven’t won an away game since the opening day of the season against Wolves. United beat West Ham convincingly at Upton Park in December.

Having already lost ground on Chelsea in the race for the title, United can’t afford another slip up tonight or they risk gifting the league leaders crucial breathing space. A win tonight puts them one point behind Chelsea who don’t play again until Saturday when they host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Squads

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Brown, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Park, Anderson, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson, Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Diouf.

West Ham (from): Green, Stech, Spector, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Da Costa, Daprela, Parker, Behrami, Kovac, Collison, Noble, Diamanti, Stanislas, Cole, Mido, Ilan, Franco, McCarthy.

The defeat shouldn’t really have come as a huge surprise. Everton have found their form at just the right (or wrong depending on who you support) stage of the season. David Moyes’ men headed into the game on the back of impressive results against Portuguese side Sporting and league leaders Chelsea.

And while Manchester United have been in impressive form in the league since the turn of the year, their make shift back four has shown to be an Achilles heal on numerous occasions against teams that don’t just sit back and play for a draw. Whenever teams attack United they’ve looked vulnerable without the assured class of Rio Ferdinand and the all action style of Nemanja Vidic.

Nevertheless, 3 points were lost in the race for the title and Chelsea capitalized by beating Wolves at Molineux, but Carrick insists the title race is far from over, and rightly so. Both teams will drop points in the run in, that much is inevitable, and with Chelsea still to visit Old Trafford in April, he has every reason to be upbeat despite the setback.

Victories against Manchester City at Old Trafford and AC Milan in the San Siro, as well as the demolition of Portsmouth and the comprehensive sweeping aside of Arsenal at The Emirates stadium give Carrick the belief that United will respond to the defeat in true United fashion, by bouncing back with a succession of victories to keep the pressure of Chelsea at the top.

“We have had some massive games in the last month and played really well over that period of time,” Carrick told Sky Sports.

“That is why Saturday was such a shock. I suppose we have to look at it as a one-off. We are certainly not getting too down about things.

“We have to bounce back but the manner of our performances over the past few weeks leads us to believe we can do it again.”

Carrick will have the chance to take on his former club West Ham in United’s next game. He acknowledges the important part West Ham played in his career as a professional footballer, but will be keeping his emotions in check when they take to the field at Old Trafford tomorrow night.

“West Ham gave me my chance,” he said. “They took me away from home, taught me a lot of things and guided me through.

“They gave me a chance in the first team, so I have a lot to thank them for. I still have a lot of friends there who I like to see when I go back.

“But, obviously, when we kick off it is business as usual and I am desperate to get the win.”

The fixture has proved to be a tricky one for United in recent seasons, and United’s injury problems threatened to make it even more difficult, but goals from Paul Scholes, Darron Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney secured the points for Manchester United

“It is always a hard place to come to as we have experienced over the years,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“It was a great goal to get (from Scholes) at an important time and it settled us down.”

Darren Gibson received some words of praise for following up his brace against Spurs in midweek with another fantastic goal today.

“He is one of those players capable of scoring from outside the box. He has fantastic power and again today it was a wonderful hit,” Ferguson praised.

Sir Alex also praised the attitude of the players to not sit back on a 2-0 lead.

“We finished well. Once we got the second goal we went to kill it off and 4-0 is a good scoreline for our confidence and the goal difference.”

A defensive crisis threatened to make the trip to Upton Park harder than it should have been, but united managed to keep a clean sheet as well as find their shooting boots.

Gary Neville and Wes Brown started in central defence, with Darren Fletcher at right back and Patrice Evra on the other flank, before a groin injury forced Neville off early leaving Michael Carrick to come on as a make shift centre half.

Nevertheless, it was United who showed the initiative and carried the attacking threat with the intent of a team hungry to put pressure on league leaders Chelsea.

Golden opportunities were falling to both Darron Gibson and Paul Scholes on the ege of the area regularly, but they were struggling to break through West Ham’s stubborn defence until late in the first half.

The ball dropped to Paul Scholes and he unleashed a left footed volley past Robert green who got his fingertips to it but couldn’t keep it out.

United went into the dressing room 1-0 up at half time.

The second half started in much the same pattern. Lots of pressure from United and the occasional counter attack or long ball from West Ham.

With the score at 1-0 West Ham were still in with a chance, but Darron Gibson saw to it that all three points were going to Old Trafford when he let fly with a rasping shot from 25 yards after Giggs layed it off. It was no more than he and United deserved.

West Ham’s best effort came a few minutes later when substitute Alessandro Diamanti curled a free kick towards the top corner, but Tomasz Kuszczak was equal to it.

From then on it was one way traffic directed at the West Ham goal. the third goal came after Paul Scholes sent Anderson down the left wing and his squared pass was met by Antonio Valencia who couldn’t miss.

In almost a carbon copy of the third goal, Scholes sent Valencia down the right wing and his cross was met by Rooney to score the fourth goal.

Four goals scored and another clean sheet ensure united stepped up the pressure on Chelsea ahead of their game against Manchester City at Eastlands.

Fletcher – 7 - Played as well at right back as he does in midfield. Defended brilliantly. Could have contributed more to the attack.

Neville – 5 - Wasn’t troubled much before a groin injury saw him take an early bath.

Brown – 7 - Nothing to trouble Brown in the air or on the ground today.

Evra – 7 - Defended well and got forward whenever he could. He came within inches of scoring late on.

Valencia – 7 - Quiet game until midway through the second half when he killed the game off with a goal and an assist.

Gibson – 7 - Another superb strike from Gibson and a controlled performance in midfield.

Scholes – 7 - Seems to have overcome the worries over his form. A good performance and volleyed in the opening goal to set United on their way.

Anderson - 7 – A typical energetic performance from the Brazilian and set up Valencia’s goal.

Giggs – 8 – Brilliant first half and a more subdued but still great second half.

Rooney – 6 - Quiet afternoon from Rooney, but still managed to get himself on the scoresheet.

Subs

Carrick – 7 - Stepped in at centre half for the injured Gary Neville and didn’t look out of place.

Berbatov – 5 Nothing special.

Owen – 5 - Same as Berbatov, no real impact.

It has been a tight affair between two sides struggling with injury, but it was United who carved out the opportunities to score.

The ball fell to Darron Gibson and Paul Scholes on the edge of the box on numerous occasions, but they shot wide of the target.

West Ham didn’t learn and on the stroke of half time the ball fell kindly for Paul Scholes, again on the edge of the area, from which he volleyed past Robert Green who could whose fingertips could only divert it into the roof of the net.

Half time: West Ham United 0-1 Manchester United.

Gary Neville moves into the centre of defence alongside Wes Brown, whilst Darren Fletcher moves to right back.

Tomasz Kuszczak keeps his place in goal.

Darron Gibson and Anderson are rewarded for their impressive performances against Spurs midweek with starts today. They join Paul Scholes in a three man midfield.

Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs occupy the wing slots, with Wayne Rooney up front on his own.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Neville, Brown, Evra, Gibson, Anderson, Valencia, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Carrick, Nani, De Laet.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Neville, Brown, Evra, Gibson, Anderson, Valencia, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Carrick, Nani, De Laet.

Venue: Upton Park
Date: Saturday, 5 December 2009
Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Edwin van der Sar returns for Manchester united as they head to Upton Park to take on Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham.

Tomasz Kuszczak has deputised well since van der Sar injured his knee in a collision with Tim Cahill a fortnight ago, but is set to revert back to his bench role for tomorrow’s clash.

Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves are the long term absentees, while  Jonny Evans and John O’Shea. The former has a calf injury while the latter has a dead leg.

Brown and Vidic will continue in the centre of defence.

West Ham have been rocked by the news that Carton Cole will be out until January with knee ligament damage.

Valon Behrami, Luis Jimenez and Matthew Upson are also sidelined, and Mark noble is doubtful with a virus.

West Ham United (from): Green, Kurucz, Faubert, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Daprela, Tomkins, Ilunga, Spector, Kovac, Noble, Parker, Collison, Payne, Diamanti, Dyer, Hines, Stanislas, Franco.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O’Shea, Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Rafael, Valencia, Anderson, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney, Owen, Macheda, Welbeck.