Wayne Rooney contract talks to be stepped up by Manchester United as court case ends

Rooney, currently on holiday following his participation at the World Cup with England, was instead ordered to pay a 'restititional remedy' of £90,475.25 to Proactive, who had sued for unpaid commission, by Judge Brendan Hegarty QC at a hearing at Manchester Mercantile Court on Thursday.

The conclusion of the court case has removed a significant obstacle preventing United from thrashing out a new long-term contract for the 24 year-old, whose £90,000-a-week deal expires in June 2012. Although United are confident that negotiations with the player and his advisers will pass smoothly, securing last season's 34-goal top scorer to a long-term deal is regarded as crucial by manager.

Sir Alex Ferguson and the club's owners, the Glazer family. Rooney's disappointing performances at the World Cup have done little to dent his reputation as one of Europe's leading players and Ferguson expects him to rediscover his best form at Old Trafford.

Ferguson said: "I don't expect a hangover, but I think there'll still be disappointment in the lad. I think all the players coming back from the World Cup who didn't do well, who didn't reach their expectations may feel that they've missed something. But that's because the World Cup's only once every four years."