LONDON - Wayne Rooney plans to make amends for the worst season of his life by firing Manchester United to a crucial victory against fading champion Chelsea on Tuesday.

By his own admission, Rooney has been well below his best as he struggles to cope with a distracting combination of issues in his private life, recurring injuries and the fall-out from a contract row that nearly brought a premature end to his time at Old Trafford.

In recent weeks, Rooney has finally shown glimpses of the form that made him Europe's most feared striker for much of last season, but even then he hasn't been able to avoid negative headlines.

Although Rooney was on the scoresheet in Saturday's 4-0 win at Wigan, his contribution was overshadowed by his elbow on James McCarthy which led Latics boss Roberto Martinez to claim the England star should have been sent off.

However, Rooney is determined not to let that controversy affect his performances as United heads into a season-defining week which features trips to Stamford Bridge and then Liverpool.

"I have to say it's been a difficult season for me - probably the worst I've ever had," he told News of the World. That week when I asked for a transfer was something I wouldn't want to go through ever again. Then I picked up a few niggles and missed a few games, so I didn't really feel like I was playing a part.

"The good thing is that I feel fresh. I really want to kick on from here and have a big impact on the most important matches of the season."

United could do with a resurgent Rooney over the last three months of a season which could end with Sir Alex Ferguson's side winning another treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Victory at Wigan allowed United to open up a four-point lead over second-placed Arsenal and that gap will increase to seven points if the leader can claim a rare win at Chelsea.

It is 13 matches since Ferguson's team last triumphed at Stamford Bridge way back in April 2002.

United has produced too many lackluster performances on its travels this season, but Rooney believes his side is in the right frame of mind to end its Chelsea jinx and, in the process, deliver another blow to the Blues' hopes of finishing in the top four.

Agence France-Presse