Wayne Rooney insists his 'best years at Manchester United are yet to come'

Despite some believing Wayne Rooney is inching closer to the twilight of his career as he approaches the age of 30, the Manchester United captain contended that his performance on the pitch is continuing to evolve and his peak years are ahead of him.

Rooney, 28, outlined his prediction for the next five years to the the Sunday Times.

"I still believe I can get better as a footballer," Rooney said. "In the next three to five years you will see me as a different player. The next two or three I feel could be the best of my career.

"I'm at a stage, especially after playing at this club for 10 years, where I've picked up a lot about the game - I've learnt."

The comments came before Manchester United's 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday where Rooney's goal was overshadowed by the red card he picked up in the second half.

While his unpredictable nature tends to creep up from time-to-time, Rooney explained his knowledge of the game has improved drastically and he has learned from mistakes he made as a youngster.

"When I was younger I wasted far too much energy charging around in the last 15 minutes. I'd be tired, your legs aren't fresh and you might miss a chance.

"I'm a better footballer now than I was then. When I was younger I was raw, there were moments when I did spectacular stuff, but now overall my play is better."

There's been two occasions throughout his United career where Rooney expressed his unrest at the club and hinted at an exit. Those comments, however, seem to be a thing of the past after his statement about a long-term commitment to the club.

 "It's more than likely I'll be here for the rest of my career."