Wayne Rooney stormed the polls for ManUtd.com's January Player of the Month award.

The Reds' no.10 is in the form of his life, scoring seven goals last month, including a fantastic four-goal haul against Hull, a last-gasp Carling Cup semi-final winner against Manchester City, and a scintillating counter-attacking effort at Arsenal.

He's the league's leading scorer with 20 goals (22 in all competitions) and on course to break the 30-goal barrier for the first time in his career. In short, on this form he's unstoppable.

Rooney polled 77 per cent of 22,000 votes in our poll, beating the also-impressive Nani into first place - the Portuguese winger took 18 per cent of the votes.

Reds team-mate Darren Fletcher praised Rooney's recent displays, which have often seen him playing the difficult-to-master lone striker role. But Rooney has excelled in the position, and it's not just fans showing their appreciation.

"He’s been a top player for us," says Fletch. "He's played up front on his own, and it’s difficult because he maybe doesn't get the ball as often as he'd like. But I wouldn’t choose anyone else up there. He does the work of two players."

Player of the Month: January

Wayne Rooney 77%
Nani 18%
Patrice Evra 2%
Edwin van der Sar 1%
Jonny Evans 1%
Total votes: 21,788

January stats
Games played: 7
Goals scored: 7

Where his goals came from
United 3-0 Burnley - 1
United 4-0 Hull - 4
United 3-1 Man City - 1
Arsenal 1-3 United - 1

Our official DJ, DJ Evra!

Our official DJ, DJ Evra!

Old Trafford will fall silent before kick-off on Saturday out of respect for the 23 people who tragically lost their lives in the Munich air disaster 52 years ago.

Every year on 6 February, Manchester United remembers those who died in 1958, including eight players - Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam Whelan - and three members of staff - club secretary Walter Crickmer, trainer Tom Curry and coach Bert Whalley.

Saturday is only the eighth time the Reds have played on the anniversary of the crash. As well as the players wearing black armbands and the stadium’s flags flying at half-mast, there will be a minute’s silence before kick-off. Every member of the United party on the ill-fated flight will be represented at the game by relatives.

“Every anniversary is important – that doesn’t change, and never will,” says club secretary Ken Ramsden.

“If you look at the defining moments in United's history then I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more defining moment than the Munich air crash.

"We will continue to embrace the significance of the tragedy.”

More: manutd.com/munich

Edwin van der Sar has praised the unsung heroes of the 2009/10 campaign who have helped put United in a strong position as the title race begins to gather pace.

The Dutchman was limited to just seven starts before Christmas, while injury also meant Rio Ferdinand started just eight games before the turn of the year.

The likes of Jonny Evans and Wes Brown have covered admirably in defence for the losses of Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic when they have been absent, but van der Sar has taken time to praise in particular the work of fellow goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

The Polish stopper played 11 consecutive games from the end of November to the start of January, when van der Sar returned to action. Edwin is full of admiration for Kuszczak's performances during a testing time.

"I’d like to go on record as saying what a good job Tomasz [Kuszczak] did over the last couple of months," van der Sar says in an exclusive interview with United Review. "With so many injuries in defence, it wasn’t easy for him to come in and perform so well under a lot of pressure."

Chelsea's stumble against Hull City on Tuesday has given the Reds an opportunity to reclaim top spot against Portsmouth on Saturday, before the Blues entertain Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

That the Reds are in a position to strike is in no small part down to the displays of Kuszczak and co. "I thought he really played well in a difficult situation," added Edwin.

"When you get injuries, sometimes players are there waiting for their opportunity. When you get the chance to play you have to make the most of it and he did really well, so I just want to say well done to him."

Sir Alex described Anderson as having “a face like a bag of tripe when I don't play him" in a typically dry-witted assessment of his midfielder’s reaction to being left out of the team. It’s rare to see the boy from Porto Alegre (literally ‘Joyous Port’) not grinning. So he hopes there’s plenty to smile about for the remainder of the season...

How do you think this season has gone for you?
I feel it’s gone quite well. I’ve played in a few games and I think I’ve done well. I’m very happy to be at United. I hope that I can be here for a long time and do even better for the team in the future.

Sir Alex says you always look so unhappy when he doesn’t pick you. Does that sum up your determination to play for United?
Yes, I think so. No footballer is happy when they are out of the team. If you’re not bothered being on the bench or in the stands you will never be successful, certainly not at a club like United. You have to be unhappy if you’re not in the team. But even when I am not included I always support my team-mates. I’d love to start every match, but when this doesn’t happen I support my colleagues because we’re a team and we stick together.

How tough is it competing with so many other top midfielders at United?
I see it as a great challenge. It’s good to have competition around you because that’s the way to get the best out of players. If everyone is competing for places, the performance levels will always be higher.

You’ve played in a number of different roles – an advanced midfielder, more defensively, or wide left – do you have a preferred role?
I prefer to play further up the pitch in a more attacking role because I think that suits my game. And the system that Manchester United play gives me the freedom to do what I do best. So I prefer a more attacking role.

You’ve said you’re still not satisfied with your scoring record. Are you working on improving in that department?
I’ve been doing everything I can to improve but, of course, no player that plays in my position is happy if they score just one goal in one season. I want to add goals to my game, and I’m always trying my best. I want to do well here, I feel happy here. But to me the goalscoring record isn’t a problem, if it doesn’t happen this season then I know it will come next season. I cannot, and will not, give up trying to achieve that. I’m happy with the way my career is developing.

United have suffered a lot of injuries this term. But with players coming back, is confidence high in the dressing room that the team can be successful?
We’re well-placed in the title race, in the final of the Carling Cup and we’re in the last 16 of the Champions League. It’s true that with players returning from injury we’ll be even stronger – and that will only helps us in our aim to make history in English football and become the first team to win four league titles in a row. We’re all very confident.

How hopeful are you of making Brazil’s World Cup squad?
At this moment I’m focused only on doing well for United. If I do well and earn a place in the national team for the World Cup that would be fantastic. But if I don’t, I will still support them as a fan. My main aim is United, that’s my priority. I’d be chuffed to play at a World Cup, but I have many years ahead of me in the game so I hope to have more opportunities.