Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has said that scoring for England during the international break helped to kickstart his season in front of goal.

The 26-year-old failed to find the net during his first six games for the Red Devils this season.

However, he then got off the mark by scoring twice for England in the 5-0 win over San Marino, quickly followed by another goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw in Poland.

After registering his first two club goals of the season in today's 4-2 win over Stoke City, Rooney said: "I've worked hard for those goals today. Getting the goals for England helped."

Rooney's afternoon had earlier got off to a less than enjoyable start when he opened the scoring at Old Trafford by heading into his own net.

On his own goal, he added: "I was marking Ryan Shawcross and I couldn't see the ball so it came and hit me and went in. It was important for me to move on and not let it affect me and I did that."

Prior to today, Rooney had never scored an own goal.