David Moyes: 'I told Wayne Rooney he had gone soft'

Manchester United manager David Moyes believes that striker Wayne Rooney has improved as a player his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer.

Rooney was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, but after signing a new five-and-a-half-year deal with United, Moyes has revealed that he had some strong words for the 28-year-old before the start of the campaign.

The 50-year-old is quoted in The Guardian as saying: "I remember when he came to see me. I said to him: 'If you ask me what's missing - I think that you've gone a bit soft'.

"I thought that he hadn't been the hard-working, aggressive player that he was. But now in games, people are saying: 'Look at the effort he is putting in.'

"It's his work-rate, not just for himself but for the team. He's become an all-round team player who is also a technically gifted footballer."

Rooney has scored 11 times in 29 appearances for United this season.