Manchester United have been rejuvenated under new manager Jose Mourinho and are poised to mount a strong challenge for the Premier League title, skipper Wayne Rooney has said.
The 30-year-old forward, who secured his fifth league title with the club the last time they won it in 2013, scored eight top flight goals last season as United finished fifth and failed to qualify for the Champions League.
The 20-times English title winners have already signed striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Henrikh Mkhityaran and defender Eric Bailly and are understood to have been negotiating with Juventus over the transfer of Paul Pogba.
"I think the players feel this is more like the old Manchester United. It's not just the new signings, we've got Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford from last season who made such an impact," Rooney told the Daily Mail in an interview.
Rooney, who will line up against boyhood club Everton in his testimonial at Old Trafford on Wednesday, also hopes United can secure the annual Community Shield against English champions Leicester City at Wembley on Sunday.
"We're in a very good spot now, we think we can challenge for the Premier League, I think the players feel this is more like the old Manchester United," Rooney added.
We want to put a marker down, in the Community Shield with Leicester. I know it's a one-off game, but we want to show we can win a trophy early on... we feel that's an important event for us."
Pogba is likely to be the next arrival at United's Carrington training facility and Rooney acknowledges that the France midfielder's signing would be "a big statement" from the Red Devils.
Recalling their previous training battles during Pogba's first spell at the club, Rooney said of the 23-year-old: "He was one of those players who, when you trained against him, somehow he would just hurt you.
"A knee in your side, bump into you, I don't think he meant to do it, but it just happened.
"You didn't even need to get into a tackle. Just go next to him and you'd find an elbow or some other sharp bit. So, if he comes, I'm looking forward to that again!
"But he had great ability, some of the things he could do, and he's gone up a level since he left us.
"I hope he is going to want to return to United and prove he's a top-class player. If he is excited to play for us, we'll be excited to have him back.
"I'm sure he'll feel there is unfinished business, and it would be a very big statement by the club if they can make it happen."
