• Premier League

Striking options leave Ferguson nursing a headache

ESPN staff
July 14, 2011
Wayne Rooney may be paired with a variety of strikers this season © PA Photos
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he faces a selection "headache" this season after seeing the number of strikers at the club rise to six.

The Premier League champions have been bolstered by the return of Federico Macheda, who failed to find the net in 14 appearances with Sampdoria last season, and Mame Biram Diouf, who scored six times when on loan at Blackburn.

Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez formed a deadly partnership during the previous campaign, which consigned Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to the bench for long periods. And, despite boasting an embarrassment of riches in attack, Ferguson is already scratching his head over who will lead the line for United.

"I think the problem for Michael last year is the same that can be applied to other strikers, Berbatov in particular," he said. "The form of Chicharito [Hernandez] was just too good, we couldn't leave him out.

"That's going to be a headache for me because having Diouf and Macheda back is going to mean I'll be picking from six strikers. It's not a bad thing but sometimes it could be a confusing aspect in terms of team choice."

Meanwhile, one of Ferguson's latest recruits, Ashley Young, caught his manager's eye with a lively showing in United's 4-1 win over New England in Boston. Aston Villa deployed the England international in a central role last season, but Ferguson is considering using the 25-year-old in a more orthodox position out wide.

"That was his position until last season when they started playing him behind the strikers in a more advanced role, like the way we use Wayne Rooney, " he said. "His capabilities are such that he can play at wide left, he can play in behind the strikers and he can play wide right.

"He showed tonight he's a fantastic crosser of the ball. I think he hit three fantastic crosses in the game, which maybe isn't something we're used to with the way we play. But if we do get used to it then there's goals there. I was very satisfied."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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