The Manchester United striker has netted nine goals with his head in 11 games to help take his total tally for the season to the 30-goal mark.

Ferdinand, who has just taken part in a cycle ride across Europe for Sport Relief, believes Rooney is finally fulfilling his goalscoring potential because he is playing further forward.

And, just like Ferdinand benefited from the crossing of David Ginola and Keith Gillespie during a similarly prolific streak at Newcastle, the former England striker feels Rooney is reaping the rewards of Antonio Valencia's progression.

"People keep talking about why he is scoring so many headers," Ferdinand told Press Association Sport.

"I think he is now playing as an out-and-out centre-forward and, not only that, he's got great supply in Valencia.

"When you look at his headed goals, most of them have come from Valencia, who is an out-and-out winger who wants to get down and cross the ball in. He is taking advantage of that."

Ferdinand admitted he did not envisage Rooney's emergence as a goal machine.

"No, I've got to be honest, because he has always been playing in that withdrawn role," the former Tottenham and QPR striker said.

"In the past you've had the people who go through the middle and he has played off them, sometimes too deep if you ask me.

"I once said I didn't think he would be a prolific goalscorer, I thought he would be a scorer of great goals.

"I have had to change my opinion on that because, since (Cristiano) Ronaldo has gone, he's had to step up and he's scoring goals in abundance."

While Rooney has hit his career-best form just at the right time for England's sake, Sir Geoff Hurst this week claimed England manager Fabio Capello did not have the depth of striking talent to repeat his team's 1966 World Cup triumph.

But Ferdinand is sure there are dangerous forwards to help Rooney and England achieve their goal in South Africa.

"You've got Jermain Defoe who is on 20-odd goals this season and Peter Crouch, who is not prolific but Wayne Rooney and others thrive off a Peter Crouch or Emile Heskey," Ferdinand added.

"When you look at those two players, they probably haven't scored enough goals and that might put doubt in people's minds.

"But what they are is a threat and they create space for other people, so I think we'll be all right."

Ferdinand was speaking at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh after rejoining former England rugby skipper Lawrence Dallaglio's charity cycle ride through all Six Nations cities.

But his friendship with Lee Dixon almost suffered after the former Arsenal full-back persuaded him to take part.

"I went from Rome to Nice and I slagged him off right at the beginning in Rome because of the snow," Ferdinand said. "I was thinking 'why the hell did I do this?' But it was for a good cause and in the end I'm really pleased I've done it."

:: Sponsor Lawrence Dallaglio and his fellow cyclists by visiting www.dallagliocycleslam.com