Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United will get better after narrow opening day win over Tottenham

Kyle Walker's first-half own goal separated the sides as United struggled for fluency in attack against Mauricio Pochettino's bright Spurs

Wayne Rooney acknowledged Manchester United were ring-rusty in their opening Premier League win over Tottenham.

Kyle Walker's first-half own goal separated the sides as United struggled for fluency in attack against Mauricio Pochettino's bright Spurs, report the Manchester Evening News.

Rooney endured a forgettable afternoon up front but after United's confidence was 'smashed' by Swansea in their domestic opener last season, the captain was relieved with the victory.

"We could have played better but after what happened last season, getting off to a bad start at home," he told BT Sport.

In pictures: United 1-0 Spurs

"Today was all about the three points and we've done that. That's all we could have asked for today."

All five of United's new signings made their debuts, with Bastian Schweinsteiger the only recent arrival not to start the narrow win.

United played just four pre-season games in the United States and, with more signings probable this window, Rooney feels Louis van Gaal's new-look squad could take time to gel.

"We're still working, of course," he added.

"This pre-season's been relatively short compared to previous ones, but we've worked hard and all that work went into getting the three points today, so we've done that.

"Now we have a couple of days to go back over the game and see what we've done good and what we've done bad, and then we can start preparing for Villa. So it was a big victory for us today."

Clean sheet: Romero impressed on debut

Sergio Romero's save from Christian Eriksen in the dying stages was decisive, however the broadcasters named Chris Smalling as man of the match.

Smalling did not start in any of United's tour matches, however Van Gaal strongly suggested he would partner Daley Blind against Tottenham.

And, for the second time in six months, Smalling dominated the much-hyped Harry Kane in another performance that suggested he is developing into the centre half Sir Alex Ferguson envisaged he would.

"It was good to get that clean sheet," Smalling insisted.

"As Wazza said, at times we didn't play well. I think after we got the goal we had our best spell but we dug in in the end and it was an important three points.

"It was important we all got off to a good start and showed the fans that we're up for it, and that it's the first [victory] of many."

Robbie Savage states his expectations of Wayne Rooney this season

Robbie Savage has written in The Mirror that he expects Wayne Rooney to score more than 20 goals for Manchester United this season.

The former Derby County and Leicester City midfielder believes that United manager Louis van Gaal will play the England international forward up front and not in a deeper role this term.

“I trust we have seen the last of the England captain dropping too deep to be a serious attacking threat, and I expect him to score 20-plus goals this season,” Savage wrote in The Mirror.

Could Robbie Savage’s prediction come true?

Rooney may be 29 years of age, but he remains one of the best and most influential players in the current United squad.

The former Everton star is a versatile player, but his best position is as a striker. Playing him in a deeper role limits his influence on games.

Van Gaal will have realised that, having deployed him out of his best position on many occasions during the 2014-15 campaign.

If Rooney is played regularly as a striker, then he is certainly going to have a very good chance of scoring more than 20 goals in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign.

Wayne Rooney to don Everton blue again - 11 years after acrimonious Manchester United move

The Manchester United and England star is turning out for the Toffees in Duncan Ferguson's testimonial at Goodison Park on Sunday

Fresh-faced: Rooney at Everton more than a decade ago

Wayne Rooney will pull on the beloved blue shirt of Everton for the first time in 11 years – and hope the Goodison fans can finally forgive him for joining Manchester United.

Rooney has agreed to play for the Toffees in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial match against Villarreal on August 2.

And that means playing in front of supporters who have hounded him mercilessly for leaving the club he supported as a boy to join United for £25million in 2004.

The abuse affected the England captain to such an extent that Sir Alex Ferguson once admitted he was tempted to leave Rooney out of his team whenever United travelled to Goodison.

Hero: Rooney idolised Duncan Ferguson when he was growing up

Rooney said: “As a young lad, Duncan Ferguson was a hero of mine.

“As a young player at the club he was an inspiration and when I broke into the first team he helped and looked after me.

“I cannot think of a better way to thank Dunc for all he did for me than turning out in his fully-deserved testimonial match.”