Wayne Rooney's Improved Fitness Key to Star Striker's Hot Start

Manchester United strolled past Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in Germany on Wednesday night, securing their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and adding to the feeling that the David Moyes era might be beginning to gather pace.

At the heart of the victory once more was forward Wayne Rooney, supplying two assists and continuing his fine all-round form this season. Considering his potential exit from the club was the story of the summer, it has been some turnaround for the former Everton player over recent months.

Per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson, Moyes spoke on Friday of the player's need for consistent games to find form and fitness:

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There will be times when we do have to look after him. At the moment he doesn't need it. But I will be looking for any signs of a dip. I look at a lot of other clubs and they have played their players continuously.

It's just at United here we've got a squad, we can rotate them, we have got other options. So I think I'll try and just wait. If it [a dip] doesn't come around, I don't need to [rest him] and won't do it.

Rooney's best form is always a result of him playing consistently. He is a boy who continually gets better in the games he plays. It doesn't really seem to affect him in a way it does others. The point I'm making is I just want to make sure I keep him playing as well as he is doing.

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Having played all but a couple of early games this campaign, there can be no doubting the England star's current performance levels. With eight goals and eight assists in his 14 appearances this campaign, he has been the leading contributor to Moyes' team thus far.

Per the Express' Richard Tanner, Moyes recently stated that his star was in the "best shape of his career" and it is difficult to argue with those claims. Rooney appears both fully fit and motivated, which has not always been the case in recent seasons.

What has helped immensely is that the new United manager has massaged the ego of his former Everton charge. Moyes has been quick to praise Rooney, to place him in a position of responsibility and, also, to place him as the chosen player for the team's No. 10 role. It would appear to be a strategy that is paying off.

With fellow striker Robin van Persie having suffered from injury concerns this campaign, Rooney's contributions have been more important than ever. Indeed, his set-piece delivery alone has won points for United this season.

Rooney's versatility is testament to his range of skills and intelligence as a footballer. However, his selflessness for the team's cause has often been a hindrance to his own personal standing and form.

What Moyes has done, though, is place Rooney at the core of his side's attacking unit and allow the England forward's individual quality to come to the fore. It may, thus far, have limited the ability of Shinji Kagawa, but Moyes will be content with the outcome of his show of faith thus far.

When fit and playing in a central role, there is no reason why Rooney cannot be considered among the very best in the world in his role. Now he is in a position to put his own performance first, rather than take on excess defensive responsibility, he is once more racking up the numbers that would be expected of a top player.

If United achieve any success this season, there can be no doubting that Rooney will be central to their hopes. Bring silverware to Old Trafford and Moyes' belief in his striker's ability will have proven well-placed.