Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal says that he will continue to use captain Wayne Rooney as a midfielder.
"When you score two goals and you give the assist to the third goal, then you are happy as the manager," Van Gaal said, describing Rooney's decisive performance in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
"He is very happy also." Rooney scored United's first two goals, and set up Robin van Persie for United's third against the Magpies, who could only celebrate a late consolation penalty from Papiss Cisse.
"He has the lung capacity to run 90 minutes as a midfielder," said Van Gaal. "That's why I used him like a midfielder. I can also use him as a striker. For the team at the moment, it's better he plays in midfield."
With Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Angel Di Maria all absent with injuries, Rooney has stepped back from the front line, and been key to home victories over Liverpool and now Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Van Gaal bemoaned the quick, 43-hour turnaround he has to prepare his team for Sunday's visit to Tottenham Hotspur, which kicks off at midday.
"I cannot prepare my team like I have to prepare," he said. "We have unit meetings, and team meetings, we have training 11 against 11, and examining opponents. We cannot do that now.
"With FIFA and UEFA's it's forbidden to play within 48 hours. But, OK, it's England."
The Dutch coach did reveal, however, that he had made substitutions in order to save players for the weekend.
"I changed [Radamel] Falcao and [Michael] Carrick for that reason," he said. "We have to wait and see how they recover. All the players have to go to the AON Training Complex to recover and eat properly, then your body can recover better. Tomorrow morning they have again free. Recovery is much more important than a training session now."
United's victory and fine performance was still not enough to close a 10-point gap on leaders Chelsea or seven on second-placed Manchester City.
"We win and they shall lose, then it's easy," Van Gaal said when asked if United could still win the title. "Chelsea shall not lose so easily. It shall be very difficult."