Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney must prove he is a world-class player by producing consistent performances in big games, former Old Trafford defender Paul Parker has said.
Rooney returns from the suspension that followed his sending off against West Ham when United face City in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, despite fears over his fitness.
The United captain had been seen limping at an event with club sponsors on Monday -- but sources close to the club told ESPN FC that the 29-year-old was fully fit.
Parker urged the England captain to make his mark against United's Manchester rivals, having called for him to be benched earlier in the season.
"It's up to Rooney to show what he can do, because Manchester United really lacked a cutting edge when they drew with Chelsea last weekend," he told ESPN FC.
"He must prove that he's a world-class player by producing consistent performances in big games like this one.
"Until he does that, we can't call him world class."
Parker, now based in Singapore, spent five seasons at Old Trafford in the 1990s, winning two Premier League titles.
He added: "This is Rooney's best chance to show that he deserves to be starting every week by creating headlines for everyone to read on Monday morning."
With injury doubts surrounding United's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, Parker said Rooney had the chance to lead the way in a resumed partnership with Robin van Persie, who scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea last weekend.
"Manchester City have boasted that they have been the best club in Manchester for the past six years, so this is the perfect opportunity for RVP and Rooney to make a big statement against a side that is struggling at the moment," Parker said.
"My prediction is a 2-2 draw because United's defence still looks very vulnerable. But this is a big game for big players like Wayne Rooney to justify the kind of money that they're earning."