By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 6:35 PM on 3rd April 2011

Wayne Rooney scored a sensational hat-trick against West Ham to edge Manchester United closer to the Barclays Premier League title before declaring: 'Our season starts now.'

Rooney was talking about United as a team but he could just as easily have been referring to himself after rediscovering his peak form almost a year to the day after it all started going so badly wrong for the striker.

The 25-year-old England striker was on fire at this point last season, scoring 35 times in just 46 matches for club and country before injury struck in United's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

Comeback kings: Rooney slots home his penalty against West Ham

Comeback kings: Rooney slots home his penalty against West Ham

He was never the same again for the remainder of 2010, enduring a miserable World Cup, unseemly revelations about his private life and a run of only three goals in 28 games.

But the turn of the year seemed to rejuvenate Rooney and signs he was slowly getting back to his best began to emerge.

And Rooney believes United's ability to come from behind will have a demoralising effect on their title rivals.

'A few years ago, when Chelsea won the league, they seemed to keep doing that,' he told MUTV.

'They would be losing. Then, when we had finished the warm-up, they had won the game.'

Rooney insisted his foul-mouthed tirade at a television camera after completing his hat-trick was not directed at anyone in particular, but Arsenal and Chelsea certainly got the message.

Now seven and 11 points adrift, respectively - albeit with a match in hand each and United still to play - the game is almost up for the London duo.

Rooney added: 'Big games keep coming but you live for games like these. In some ways, we have to say our season starts now.

'We have seven more league games - four at home. Our home form has been brilliant. It is a great challenge for us and something all the players are looking forward to.'

Ryan Giggs meanwhile says he will never tire of helping Manchester United complete astonishing comebacks.

Now 37 and already the most decorated player in the history of the English game, Giggs could be forgiven for getting fed up with seeing United being forced to fight back from seemingly impossible positions.

Filling in: Ryan Giggs (left) played at left-back during the second half of United's win

Filling in: Ryan Giggs (left) played at left-back during the second half of United's win

But the midfielder laughed off such suggestions after adding yet another entry to the pantheon of turnarounds that have been a hallmark of his legendary 20-year career.

'It's what it's all about - it's a challenge,' said the Welshman. 'You enjoy it more than ever.'

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to go for broke at Upton Park saw Giggs play the entire second half at left-back.

That was one experience the player was not keen to repeat, adding: 'I don't want to play there again.'

Houdini acts have become the norm at Old Trafford during Ferguson's reign and Giggs has played a crucial part in helping develop that culture.

But he revealed it is still the manager who takes the lead in rallying the troops at half-time matches such as yesterday's.

'The experienced players obviously have been there and done it,' Giggs said. 'But I think the manager is obviously the one who believed in us.'

And despite the inexplicable manner in which United conceded two penalties to fall 2-0 behind yesterday, the hairdryer was kept in its locker.

'Calmness,' was Giggs' assessment of Ferguson's demeanour. 'To go down with two penalties is always disappointing.

'It was just a matter of concentration once you're in the last third.'