Wayne Rooney: Has reveled in the responsibility of wearing the captain's armband.

Wayne Rooney admits wearing the captain's armband has inspired him to take on more responsibility in the Manchester United changing room.

Rooney's first season as skipper at Old Trafford looks set to end on a high after last week's 4-2 win over Manchester City lifted Louis van Gaal's side four points clear of their rivals in third.

There are times when you have to speak up... the players responded to that and we have had some good results. Wayne Rooney

And Rooney revealed he has issued a number rallying calls to his teammates to help maintain the club's positive momentum through the run-in.

"There are times when you have to speak up," Rooney said. "I did that before the Tottenham game (3-0 win on March 15) because I felt I had to.

"We had had a bad defeat in the FA Cup against Arsenal (2-1 on March 9) and I just wanted to reiterate to the players what our targets were for the remaining games of the season.

"The players responded to that and we have had some good results."

The 29-year-old said he has learned much from those who have previously captained at Old Trafford, including current assistant manager Ryan Giggs.

"You can obviously look how people have done it before you," he added.

"Giggsy wasn't captain here full-time in my time at United but the things he's done have been a big help and still now. There were also leaders like Roy Keane, Gary Neville and David Beckham. There was Steven Gerrard and John Terry (for England), who were fantastic captains.

"There are different styles and different ways other people have done it. But I have to be my own person and do what I feel is the best way for me to captain the team. That is all I try to do."