Adnan Januzaj has shown he has the ability to answer Manchester United's striker shortage this season, according to manager Louis van Gaal.
Januzaj, 20, was only given seven league starts by Van Gaal last season and is yet to score a competitive goal under the Dutchman.
The Belgium international has spent much of his Old Trafford career operating as a winger, but scored as a substitute in United's 3-1 win over Barcelona in Santa Clara on Saturday as Van Gaal used him as a centre-forward and deployed striker James Wilson wide on the left.
United are short of senior specialist strikers after they chose not to buy former loanee Radamel Falcao and sold Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce, leading to an opportunity for Januzaj.
"I have given him a chance in this position and you have to look if he can do that or not," Van Gaal said in his news conference in California. "But he has a lot of quality and against Barcelona he showed it for the first time.
"He was very good and was a threat as a striker in his 30 minutes. He always gives an option for midfielder and defenders, he scored a wonderful goal and that is always important.
"He always fought with two defenders, but he did well, although it was easier for him against the defence when [Barcelona centre-back] Gerard Pique was substituted."
Januzaj, who has played as both a striker and a No. 10 at lower levels, could face competition for the role of the understudy to captain and centre-forward Rooney from Wilson and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.
Mexico international Hernandez spent last season on loan at Real Madrid but Van Gaal has pledged to give him an opportunity at Old Trafford in the forthcoming campaign.