WAYNE ROONEY consigned his 10-match goalscoring misery to the dustbin with a sensational hat-trick which propelled Manchester United back to the Premiership summit.

Having marked his United debut with a three-timer against Fenerbahce two years ago, Rooney has waited quite a while to wander off with another match ball. In fact, given his recent difficulties finding the net, the £27million hit-man would probably have been grateful for anything at the Reebok Stadium.

As it was, just 24 hours after Alex Ferguson predicted an imminent return to form, Rooney rasped home a magnificent treble as United ousted Chelsea from top spot with a scintillating display, consigning Bolton to their biggest home defeat since the Red Devils' similarly enjoyable visit to the Reebok Stadium in 2002.

With Cristiano Ronaldo fully recovered from the virus that kept him out of last week's win over Liverpool, Ferguson was able to name a full strength side, a luxury Kevin Nolan's suspension meant Sam Allardyce was not able to enjoy.

Neither could the Bolton boss have been too enamoured with what took place in the opening 20 minutes as red shirts sped around the field unchallenged. The only relief for Bolton came from the knowledge they had only conceded twice because, in truth, it should have been double that number and possibly even more still.

With Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs darting back and forward off their wings as though they were tied to a piece of elastic, Louis Saha dropping deep and turning quickly, Patrice Evra and Gary Neville providing the overlaps and both Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick picking out teammates with ease from their central midfield station, it was little wonder Bolton found it difficult to cope. Throw in Rooney on top form and the task is impossible.

Rooney had already come agonisingly close to turning home Giggs' low cross, when he was picked out brilliantly by Carrick on 10 minutes.

Rooney let the ball bounce twice before letting fly with a first-time, left-footed volley which gave Jussi Jaaskelainen no chance.

The Finn was equally helpless with Rooney's second five minutes later, which was true eye-of-the-needle stuff.

Tal Ben Haim provided the accidental assist when he slid in to rob Neville. Unfortunately for the Israel defender, he merely toed the ball to Rooney, who found the only gap available to curl a shot wide of the nearest defender but inside Jaaskelainen's lefthand post.

The second period was a much more even affair. In fact, Bolton had the edge and if Edwin van der Sar not superbly turned away Ivan Campo's instinctive strike 15 minutes from time, the Trotters might have launched a miracle comeback bid.

As it was, with Vidic superb, United's defence stood firm and the fight seemed to have ebbed out of the Trotters long before Saha presented Ronaldo with a tap-in. Bolton were on their knees begging for mercy by the end. But none was forthcoming as Darren Fletcher seized on Abdoulaye Meite's mistake and set up Rooney for his glorious third.