Rooney’s new team-mate Memphis Depay stole the show against Club Brugge, opening his account for the club with two stylish first-half strikes before setting up substitute Marouane Fellaini for a stoppage-time header that put United firmly in control of the tie.

“He can become one of the top players in the world at Manchester United“, Robben said.

Should manager Louis van Gaal look for an alternative to playing Rooney in the lone striker role, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson are the only other strikers in his squad, while newcomer Memphis Depay can also play in a forward role.

Depay, after the match, said he was disappointed to not get his hat trick or even more, and the United boss likes to see this from his players – as they aim to be higher than they are already.

Louis van Gaal said he felt like kissing Memphis Depay after watching the Manchester United new boy stun Club Brugge on Tuesday night. “Memphis can become the complete player under his [Louis van Gaal’s] guidance”.

United, who last season failed to qualify for Champions League for the first time in 19 years, are now in a comfortable position for the second leg but things could have turned out differently at Old Trafford after Michael Carrick gave Brugges the lead.

“Rooney tries hard – you can never fault him for his work-rate – but he’s continually searching during the game“. I’m an honest guy, I know when I haven’t played well and against Aston Villa I was below my standards and I know that.

Rooney insists Louis van Gaal he can still rely on him to deliver the goals for his side this season despite a poor start to the campaign.

When asked if he still thought that he could score 25 goals this season, he said: “Yeah, of course. We have a lot of chances and only three goals”, he told. “But it was a good result and we have to travel to Bruges and finish the job over there”.

Full-back Luke Shaw, who linked up well with Depay, praised his teammate’s performance.

“Hopefully he shall continue but it is also hard for him”.