Record Manchester United goalscorer Wayne Rooney has described Alexis Sanchez as the “perfect” signing for his former club, comparing the Chilean to former strike partner Carlos Tevez.

Sanchez, who seemed set to join Manchester City before United gazumped their neighbours to sign the player from Arsenal, recorded an assist in a man-of-the-match display on his United debut against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup, and although he had a quiet outing in his next match as United lost to Tottenham, he opened his account for his new club in a 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday.

Rooney, who left United to return to Everton last summer after winning every trophy on offer at the Manchester club, was part of a thrilling three-pronged strike force alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez which did the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08, and says Sanchez’s arrival could have the same effect as Tevez’s signing in 2007 did.

“For me he’s the perfect player for Manchester United, he’s got aggression, passion, desire and you can see he’s a winner,” he told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show.

“That’s sort of what Manchester United have lacked – players around (Romelu) Lukaku who are going to push him on and help him score more goals.

“They are the players you want, almost like (Carlos) Tevez when he joined United.

“Those players lift the others.”