Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has backed striker Wayne Rooney to end his Premier League goal drought shortly.

The captain is yet to find the net in any of his five top-flight appearances this season, but the Dutchman is certain that they will come for goal-shy Rooney, who has struck four times in all competitions - three in the Champions League, one in the Capital One Cup.

"I don't think that is an issue for him, for me or for the club so he shall score also in the Premier League. That I am convinced of. And you shall see it," he is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.

"You can never know why it happens. He has been a little bit unlucky. I can give you an example – against Newcastle he scored and it was not offside but it was cancelled."

Rooney played in a deeper role to accommodate in-form striker Anthony Martial in last week's 3-2 win at Southampton, in which the Frenchman scored twice.

The Red Devils host struggling Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.