Rooney is 12 years Giggs' junior but has already made a mark on the English game.

With two Premier League titles and a European Cup to his name, the former Everton star has made more than 200 appearances for the Red Devils and almost 50 international caps.

But when he celebrates his 35th birthday in a couple of weeks, Giggs will do so with 10 league titles, two Champions League victories and four FA Cup wins in a trophy collection unmatched in the British game.

In addition, Giggs has now played 768 games for United, 10 more than Sir Bobby Charlton, whose record he eclipsed on that famous night in Moscow last May.

At 23 Rooney has plenty of time on his side to match the Welshman's amazing feats, but even if he gets close it would be a reason for celebration.

"I want to stay at this club as long as I am wanted," he told MUTV. "I want to keep playing and scoring goals.

"But if I am anywhere near what Ryan has achieved when I am his age, I would be really pleased.

"The games he has played and what he has won is fantastic."

Rooney is just one short of 100 goals in club football and will try to reach his century when Hull visit Old Trafford tomorrow.

Not that he is too concerned about hitting three figures.

"To score 100 goals in club football would be nice but it doesn't really bother me," he said.

"Winning is the most important thing. I will look back when I have finished my career but I am only young. I want to score more than 100 and keep scoring, so it is no big deal."

For the first time in his short career, Rooney has to regard Liverpool, the club he despised as a boy, as genuine challengers in the title race.

After beating United at Anfield in September, Rafael Benitez's side ended Chelsea's incredible unbeaten home record last weekend to open up a three-point lead at the top.

"Liverpool are genuine title contenders," Rooney added. "They are a few points clear now as well, although if a team was going to win that game we would have preferred it to be Liverpool."

Meanwhile Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he feared Rooney would get sent off at Everton last Saturday.

Rooney was taken off after being booked for a foul on Mikel Arteta.

With the Goodison Park crowd baying for blood, Rooney kissed the badge on his Manchester United shirt, inflaming the situation further.

Ferguson was unhappy at the decision of referee Alan Wiley to book Rooney but has waited in vain for an apology this week.

But he remains convinced if Rooney had stayed on the field there was a very real chance he would have been dismissed.

"I read in the paper a few weeks ago that Alan Wiley phoned David Moyes to apologise for the penalty kick Everton did not get at Stoke," said Ferguson.

"When you see that booking on Saturday you would think he might lift the phone to apologise as well because it was a ridiculous decision.

"It was unfair and put us under pressure. Wayne is a committed player and he tackles but any more and he would have been sent off.

"The crowd had got to the referee and it was difficult."

The FA decided not to take any further action against Rooney, as had been originally feared, but Ferguson felt they never had a case anyway.

"What damage did he do?" he said. "Look at the abuse he took off the Everton fans last week. It wasn't very nice either but nothing can be done about that."