Giggs: Rooney will keep taking spot kicks

Rooney failed from the spot for the second time this season, and his 10th overall as a United player, as the Red Devils scraped past West Ham to book an FA Cup fourth round tie with Fulham on January 26.

Evidently, Sir Alex Ferguson was not impressed by this latest effort, ballooned into the Stretford End, which added to a catalogue of such failures from his side.

United have now missed more penalties than they have scored this term - the current score stands at 5-4. However, Giggs has been around long enough to know these frailties can affect anyone.

Even United's most lethal predator in recent times, Ruud van Nistelrooy, missed three in succession once, culminating in those lamentable scenes against Arsenal in 2003.

"Players sometimes go through these types of spells," said Giggs.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy missing three on the trot. Not many people remember that but I certainly do.

"The fourth one he stepped up, buried it and probably didn't miss one again.

"Wayne is our penalty taker. He will be disappointed because he is a goalscorer who wants to score goals.

"But I am sure if we get another, he will take it."

Thus far, Giggs' name is absent from the goalscorers' chart.

As the only man to score in every Premier League campaign, there is added significance behind the 39-year-old's next goal.

However, the whispers Giggs was past it, which were becoming louder in the autumn as he failed to make any significant impact on United's campaign, have now been silenced.

The midfielder was named man-of-the-match against the Hammers, with Ferguson confirming afterwards Giggs could extend his career at least into next season.

"I am not thinking about my contract at the moment," he said.

"It is like previous seasons, I am quite relaxed about it.

"I am just enjoying my football. There are so many crucial games at the moment I am not too bothered about what is happening next year.

"I feel good though. Obviously the manager knows how to look after me and I try and look after myself as best I can, which you have to at this age.

"I am not going to play every game but I have to be ready and prepared when called upon."

Ferguson must now ponder what, if any, role Giggs will play on Sunday's visit to Tottenham.

The Welshman has enjoyed plenty of good days at White Hart Lane, although he was part of a midfield that was ruthlessly exposed by Andre Villas-Boas' men at Old Trafford in September.

United have collected an impressive 43 points from a possible 48 since then, so have every reason to be confident of gaining their revenge on Sunday.

"We are in relatively good form," said Giggs. "We have a lot of players coming back, which is the key thing now.

"We are into the FA Cup fourth round, the Champions League will be starting again soon and we also have important league games.

"If we have a big squad available we can achieve a lot this season."