Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that striker Wayne Rooney will have to deal with the pressure of meeting expectations on a regular basis.

The former Everton frontman came under criticism during England's Euro 2012 campaign for failing to make the impact expected of him when he came into the fold after serving his two-match UEFA ban.

"[Expectation] is something great players have to live with – it is a fact of life," The Express quotes Ferguson as saying. "Apparently in Argentina they have never taken to Lionel Messi. Don't ask me why, that quite amazes you.

"Then against Brazil he scored an unbelievable third goal in a hat-trick and that's a way of putting people in their place. That is what happens if you are a great player.

"[Rooney] got 32 goals last season and that has made a difference to his game. It's difficult to say whether he is at a peak or not, but his goalscoring has certainly given us more of a reward."

The 26-year-old is expected to join up for pre-season with his Red Devils teammates this week.