Sooner or later Wayne Rooney is going to exhaust the pot of superlatives. The Manchester United striker has now scored 27 times this season after another night in which he demonstrated the ruthlessness in front of goal that has not always been evident throughout his career.

Two headed chances, two goals. West Ham's defence were as helpless as Milan's had been at San Siro a week earlier and, in the process, Sir Alex Ferguson's team shook the 3-1 defeat to Everton out of their system and moved back within a point of Chelsea at the top, albeit having played a game more. Rio Ferdinand's late withdrawal with a recurrence of his back problems on the night Nemanja Vidic, fit again, returned to the team, is a concern, as is an injury for the returning Anderson.

Otherwise this was a satisfying, business-like win for the champions, incorporating a substitute's goal for Michael Owen two minutes after being introduced and more evidence that Rooney is surpassing Didier Drogba as the irresistible choice for player of the year.

The hardest part for Ferguson must be finding new ways to describe his leading scorer but he summed it up in his programme notes when he wrote "the hallmark of a truly great player is the ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck". Even ignoring Rooney's goals, this was another demonstration of a player wanting to makes things happen. He was a constant menace, always looking for the ball, even having the audacityat one stage to clip the ball in the air and try a dipping volley from 30 yards. The ball landed on the roof of the net and Old Trafford reverberated to the collective sigh of knowing how close it was to witnessing something truly special.

What cannot be disputed is that this is the most prolific form Rooney has shown since he burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old, the "assassin-faced baby", at Everton. Eight years on, he is more of a penalty-box player, sacrificing some of the roaming instincts that have driven Ferguson to distraction at times. His positioning has improved, his appreciation of where the ball might come. His repertoire now takes in a newly developed aerial threat and this is why Ferguson spoke of him becoming the "complete player" and "ready to join the distinguished band of Manchester United legends".

The first goal came 38 minutes into a first half in which the first flutters of snow added to the kaleidoscope of colours on another night of green and gold anti-Glazer protests. As the ball was worked upfield, starting with Nemanja Vidic in defence through to Park Ji-sung in midfield, Rooney was hanging on the line of West Ham's defence. Park picked out Dimitar Berbatov on the left, and Berbatov switched play with a cross-field ball to Antonio Valencia on the opposite flank.

The pass was slightly overhit and most footballers would have been content just to control the ball. Valencia, though, had the confidence to volley it straight across the penalty area to where Rooney was loitering with intent. It was a sublime piece of technique and vision and it would have been almost impudent for Rooney, with a stooping header, to miss.

Valencia's role cannot be overstated for both goals. It was another of his inviting crosses from which Rooney, again unchallenged, headed in the second 10 minutes after the interval. It used to be said of Rooney that heading was one his weaknesses. Not, however, on the evidence of the last week. "Everything he touches is a goal," Gianfranco Zola, West Ham's manager, reflected wistfully.

Ferguson had made five changes from the side that lost to Everton. This was Ben Foster's first appearance since the end of November and Anderson was also brought back only to be forced off after 19 minutes. The Brazilian made his way to the tunnel with such a pronounced limp it was difficult to imagine him playing any part in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on Sunday.

West Ham acquitted themselves well in the first half and Foster, described as "a bit anxious" by Ferguson, came a couple of inches away from one of his horror moments when he dropped Alessandro Diamanti's deflected shot on to his goalline as it fell from the sky. But there was a clear imbalance of talent and the home side will also reflect on Park striking the crossbar and the visiting goalkeeper, Robert Green, making a string of fine saves.

Typically, Rooney did not look too pleased when Ferguson brought him off with 12 minutes to go. Owen replaced Berbatov at the same time and quickly set about reminding Old Trafford that he too still knows a thing or two about finishing.

Paul Scholes, who ­controlled midfield alongside Darron Gibson, provided the killer pass and Owen, inside the penalty area, curled his shot in off the post.