WAYNE ROONEY is playing with such renewed drive and purpose that the Everton fans who feel obliged to boo him at Goodison Park on Saturday could be forgiven if, secretly, they are also consumed by trepidation.
Rooney's burst of scoring has brought him to 99 goals in his club career and the England international is in the most prolific form of his professional life as he aims to make it a century against the club where it all started.
"It would be special to do it at Everton," the Manchester United forward volunteered yesterday.
"It's always nice to get to 100 goals when you're a striker and if I could do it back at Everton, the club where I started, that would be really pleasing for me.
"That would be a really sweet moment."
Rooney's goal against Celtic in their Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday means he has scored nine times in his last seven games, his most impressive scoring run since he registered his first professional goal, at the age of 16 years and 342 days, in a League Cup tie at Wrexham in October 2002.
"The last six years have just flown by," Rooney, who will turn 23 tomorrow, reminisced.
"I can remember when I first came into the Everton team, at the age of 16, and Alan Stubbs telling me to try to enjoy every moment. He said to me, 'It will go a lot quicker than you think, you know', and over the years I've realised he was right.
"So I just want to enjoy every game and every season and that's what I am doing right now - really enjoying my football."
Alex Ferguson, the United manager, has been encouraging Rooney to curb his roaming instincts and concentrate more on being in the opposition penalty area, and the striker believes these subtle changes have been instrumental in his improved form.
"I'm starting to play a lot higher up the pitch and I'm attacking defenders a bit more than earlier in the season," he said.
"I've always been allowed to do that. The manager has never stopped me trying to run at players and create things in the opposition half.
"But I'm trying to do it more and commit defenders a bit more. I want to be more consistent in terms of scoring goals."
The signing of Dimitar Berbatov and the extra competition it has brought has, by Rooney's own admission, also given him a jolt.
"We have got a lot of top-class strikers here and you know you have to play at your very best to stay in the team," he said.
"I've managed to do that and I would hope I can get to the 20-goal mark now (for the season). The season before last I scored 23 but I went a bit down last year to 18. I'd be really disappointed if I didn't top that this season."
Injuries allowing, it would certainly be a surprise if he failed to reach his target, particularly considering the partnership he is developing with Berbatov.
"I'm really enjoying playing with him," said Rooney. "He links up play really well, his touch is brilliant, he creates chances and he's clever - he moves into areas of the pitch that mean you have a bit more space on the ball.
"I think he's settled in really well and hopefully we can score a few more goals between us."
Where that leaves Carlos Tevez is another matter and Rooney admitted sympathising with a striker who has started only three out of the nine matches since Berbatov's signing from Tottenham Hotspur.
"Of course," he replied, when asked if he felt sorry for the Argentinian. "He's a world-class player and I really enjoy playing with him too.
"Unfortunately for Carlos he hasn't started the last few games but he's a top player and I'm sure when he gets his chance he will take it."
• Guardian Service
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