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.
• Sam hails hat-trick hero Roo
As it was, just 24 hours after Sir 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.
Rooney had not scored since his double against Fulham on the opening day, which was the last time United put together such a breathtaking display of attacking intent.
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.
Having constructed one of the most effective units in the Premiership around a firm defence and disciplined marking, Allardyce must have been aghast at the blur of red shirts which sped around the field unchallenged.
Maybe, when he gets home and has a chance to review the onslaught in a more relaxed setting, even Allardyce will be able to appreciate how wondrous United were during that opening spell.
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 team-mates 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.
Much has been made of Rooney's 10-game goalless streak. But even as recently as Friday, Ferguson was claiming it would not be long before the England star broke his barren run. It took him precisely 10 minutes.
Rooney had already come agonisingly close to turning home Giggs' low cross, when he was picked out brilliantly by Carrick, who lofted a first-time pass over the Bolton defence.
If there was any anxiety lurking deep within the young striker, who only blew out the candles on his 21st birthday cake on Tuesday, he did not show them, letting 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 left-hand post.
Rarely in Allardyce's seven-year tenure at Bolton can he have seen his team so badly outplayed on home soil.
It was hardly a surprise some of the fire went out of United's play after such an explosive start, yet Saha and Giggs, twice, nearly increased their lead, Jaaskelainen denying the Welshman on the latter occasion after Abdoulaye Faye set him up for a volley when he was attempting to cut out a cross.
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.
Sam hails hat-trick hero Roo
Sam Allardyce hailed Wayne Rooney the best English player in the Premiership
after watching Manchester United's hat-trick hero rip Bolton apart at the Reebok
Stadium.
After 10 games without a goal, Allardyce feared Rooney might return to form at
the expense of the Trotters and his worries proved correct as the young striker
smashed home the first top-flight three-timer of his career.
In the week of his 21st birthday, Rooney stole all the headlines and, even as
the magnitude of a 4-0 home defeat was sinking in, Allardyce was still able to
offer his verdict on the youngster.
'Wayne has today proved beyond doubt he is through his bad patch and why he
is quite rightly regarded as the best English player in the Premiership,' said
Allardyce.
'His hat-trick was well deserved and it just shows the people who were
writing him off were talking nonsense.
'Apart from the third goal, there was very little we could do to stop him.
The first two were magnificent goals made of outstanding qualiy.'
Sir Alex Ferguson revealed he had spoken to Rooney prior to the game about his
barren streak, although only to reinforce the message to concentrate and relax.
There certainly appeared little evidence of anxiety when Rooney was presented
with his first opportunity by Michael Carrick's magnificent 10th minute lofted
pass as he allowed the ball to bounce twice before despatching a left-footed
volley beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Rooney's second arrived five minutes later when he curled a shot into the
corner after seizing on a loose ball on the edge of the Bolton area.
Then, after Cristiano Ronaldo had tapped home a third, Rooney wrapped up the
victory after being set up by Darren Fletcher.
'It was going to happen sooner or later,' purred Ferguson.
'I spoke to Wayne beforehand and just told him to relax and keep
concentrating.
'Once he got the first one, you could see the confidence coming back and
after that, I was just hoping the ball would go to him all the time.'
The win propelled United back to the top, just hours after Chelsea had
leapfrogged them with their victory at Sheffield United.
Just 10 games into the season, already the title race is looking between the
pair, not that Ferguson is too concerned about that.
'I don't care if we are involved in a two-horse race as long as we win it,'
he said.
'Chelsea have laid down a marker but we want to challenge them. There is a
growing confidence within the club, we are looking very strong and we will have
a good go.'
At least for Allardyce, the pain of defeat was cushioned by the knowledge his
side remain in third spot, and that they are unlikely to face such a formidable
force again.
'Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say on the day, we could not
compete with them,' he said.
'We might be close to Manchester United in the table but in terms of spending
power and quality of squad, the difference today showed.
'We can compete with most teams but when the top boys are on song, it is very
different.
'In the end, the title will come down to a battle between United's flair and
Chelsea's resilience. The one who suffers the least number of injuries will
probably come out on top.'
Wayne Rooney provided himself with the best belated 21st birthday present
imaginable at the Reebok Stadium and declared: 'It's good to be back.'
After 10 games without a goal, the Manchester United striker hit form against
Bolton this afternoon, scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes before completing
his first Premiership hat-trick to seal a 4-0 rout late on.
It was Rooney's first three-timer of any description since his debut-day
exploits against Fenerbahce over two years ago and the match ball will no doubt
eclipse any of the expensive presents he received on Tuesday, as well as
silencing the doubters who condemned him for his lack of recent firepower.
'There has been a lot of talk by a lot of people over the last few weeks
saying I couldn't do it any more, stuff like that, so the feeling when the first
goal went in was brilliant,' he said.
'Although I am not too worried about not scoring as long as we get the
result, it was a relief, especially as I had gone such a long time without
scoring.
'To finish the hat-trick was nice. I am delighted and happy just to be back
amongst the goals again and to have secured the three points in what was a big
game for us. I'm really proud and happy with the performance.'
Sir Alex Ferguson suggested on Friday the end of Rooney's goal drought was
imminent and so it proved.
'The football in the first 20 minutes was probably the best we have played as
team all season,' said Rooney.
'We opened Bolton up and got in behind them and created a lot of chances.
'We wanted to set a quick tempo, we knew Bolton were a difficult team to play
against and we wanted a goal in the first half to hold onto. We did that and
managed to get a few more as well.
'We'd heard the Bolton players saying they hadn't conceded a goal at home and
that gave us more motivation to get the win.
'We were aware of the Chelsea result but it is still early days in terms of
the title. Hopefully we can keep winning our games and concentrating on
ourselves.'
Bolton Wanderers 0 - 4 Manchester United
