Rooney 'won't change', he tells Sir Alex Ferguson

Wayne Rooney is heading for a serious hairdryer session with Sir Alex Ferguson after dismissing his manager's demands that he must change his style and sharpen up.

The s30million Manchester United star all but snorted in derision at the suggestions from Fergie that while he may be selfless, he has also become senseless.

Ferguson believes that in the injury absence of Cristiano Ronaldo - and with his s24m pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov threatened with failure - Rooney has to start working more in the opposition danger area to produce goals.

Rooney's non-performance against England, following an average display last Sunday against Newcastle, had Fergie declaring that the time had come for him to become more of a predator as opposed to his usual cover-every-blade-of grass contribution.

The manager said: "The fact that he runs all round the park - it's just a mental thing.

"What he needs to do in terms of his own personal contribution is to be involved in more goals and to achieve that he needs to concentrate more on being in or on the edge of the box.

"It's a simple thing - nothing too dramatic.

"If he is prepared to listen we'll stop it - although we accept that he has that selfless nature about him. But we still want him to be regarded as a goalscorer."

Rooney, however, is adamant that Ferguson - and England - will have to take him as he is. He said: "I don't think I'll ever lose that aggression, it's something I've always had.

"If we are not winning the game and it's not happening I get frustrated - I like to win. I don't like losing so if you're telling me that's wrong then I won't believe it."

Rooney's statement of intent is sure to irritate Ferguson.

The Scotsman continually maintained last season that despite Rooney's disappointing goal tally of 17, the sweat and toil he put in more than made up for any failure in front of goal.

At the same time Ronaldo happened to be on his way to the incredible haul of 42 that did so much to secure the double of Premier and Champions Leagues.

The fact that Rooney publicly refused to acknowledge his manager's assessment of his progress so far will not go down well especially as, even while indicating that Rooney had to start learning to better channel his efforts, Ferguson was hardly lambasting him.

The manager said: "There's always a cross to bare when you have a reputation like Wayne Rooney but there's not many United supporters that would complain about him.

"The heart he shows, the quality of his game is there.

"And he knows his position on the pitch. What we are seeing is someone expending too much energy - using too much energy in the wrong way."

Rooney, clearly, doesn't see it quite that way. He added: "Maybe I should be a little more selfish but I'm a team player.

"Everyone is talking about me scoring more goals but we won the League and the Champions League last season.

"Hopefully Cristiano can score 42 goals again this season.

"Last season was an unbelievable one for him. He will - not yet but more than likely - be named World Player of the Year and everyone at the club would be delighted for him if that was the case."