Rooney: Man Utd will win title this year

 Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League table on Wednesday night as Paul Pogba's long-range effort ensured a 2-1 win at Fulham; Derby boss Wayne Rooney has been privately telling his coaching staff that his former club will win the title for over a month

Wayne Rooney says he expects Manchester United to win the Premier League title this season.

United, who last won the title in 2013 in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season with the club, returned to the top of the league on Wednesday night with a 2-1 comeback win over Fulham, extending their unbeaten away run to 17 games.

It has been a dramatic turnaround for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side - having finished 33 points behind champions Liverpool last season - and Rooney puts a lot of that down to the signings of Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani.

Derby manager Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner at Old Trafford, feels the new arrivals have restored a winning mentality to the club and given Paul Pogba the freedom to finally flourish at United.

"The last few years, Manchester United haven't been ready to challenge for the title, but now they've brought in players like Fernandes and Cavani - players with a winning mentality - that has helped massively," said Rooney ahead of this weekend's Sky Bet Championship match at QPR.

"And now the squad is challenging for a Premier League title. I said to the coaches in the office here six weeks ago that I thought Manchester United will win the League. I still feel that today.

"Paul Pogba will have a massive part to play in that. Those players that have been brought in with winning mentalities will relieve some of the pressure from Paul a bit, and he can now show his quality on the pitch."