Rooney is back to his best and that must last

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal from open play at The Hawthorns last season.

On Sunday he did it again, 139 days earlier in the campaign.

So much seems to happen in the Barclays Premier League these days that what seemed so important one week can almost be forgotten the next.

Back on form: Wayne Rooney strides away from Albion's Chris Brunt

It's worth reminding ourselves here, therefore, what a difficult season Rooney had last time round.

Poor form, a contract dispute and an affair with a prostitute formed the background to season 2010-11 for Manchester United and England's most important player.

He ended the campaign with another Premier League medal and some new hair. But it was tough along the way.

On Sunday in the Black Country Rooney - on the ground where he scored on New Year's Day last season - looked a little more like the player that we have come to know and recognise during his seven years at Old Trafford.

Young and the restless: Ashley Young and Rooney (right) on the mark

He scored United's first goal and was, for me, his team's best player by some distance.

Here, in the space of 94 minutes, was a microcosm of United's season last time round.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team were occasionally excellent, more often rather modest and, ultimately, successful.

If they are to be more convincing in holding off challenges from the usual rivals this season then they will rely heavily on Rooney.

On Sunday the signs, from that perspective at least, were rather good. When he is at his best and full of confidence and swagger, it can be hard to locate him on the field.

Never a traditional centre forward, a true Rooney performance will see him go wherever he needs to in search of the ball.

This is how it was on Sunday.

Having enjoyed a preseason without the distraction of a major international tournament or an injury, this summer has seen the England striker contend with little more than the usual temptations of the occasional beer and, of course, a cigarette.

United manager Ferguson said last night: 'He does sometimes come back with an extra pound or two after the summer. But he looks great at the moment and he was fantastic today.

'He was all over the place. He played very well.'

Now that United's interest in Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder has cooled to the point of extinction, the squad we saw on Sunday - with the exception of the injured Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez - was as good as it will get between now and January at least.

Ferguson's team is a young one this time.

Under starter's orders: Rooney quick off the mark to score

The average age of United's starting 11 on Sunday was 24, which is younger than the Beckham, Scholes, Butt and Neville vintage that attracted such ill-advised derision from BBC pundit Alan Hansen at the start of the 1995-96 season.

It is easy, therefore, to see why Rooney, at 25, will be so important to his club's efforts.

If United do look a little light anywhere, it is in the central midfield positions.

Sneijder would have provided the perfect link between United's holding players and their forwards.

Rooney, in his own inimitable way, will have to do that now.

He has been United's pivotal individual for years. He is used to it. In fact he thrives on it. It is just as well.