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Fergie reassures benched Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov has struggled for first-team football at Manchester United this season © PA Photos

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Sir Alex Ferguson says Dimitar Berbatov "knows his place in the squad" as he finds his playing time limited by the number of strikers at Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez established themselves as first-choice forwards last season and Danny Welbeck, back at Old Trafford after a loan spell at Sunderland, also appears to have overtaken Berbatov in the pecking order.

With Rooney and Hernandez both ruled out through injury, though, Berbatov looks certain to start against FC Basel on Tuesday night, and Ferguson insists he is still an important part of the squad.

"He's got a part to play," he said. "Dimitar's one of our squad members and they've all got a part to play. He knows his place in the squad and that applies to players like Mame Diouf, Federico Macheda and Michael Owen - they're not playing regularly either.

"He's been training really well, his attitude has been spot on, brilliant, and he'll get his game time as the season goes on - there's no question about that. We're into European football, the Carling Cup, the league - there are plenty of occasions. It's just hard because of the number of strikers we have."

Owen, who scored twice against Leeds United in the Carling Cup last week before coming off the bench against Stoke on Saturday, is also hopeful of selection. On Monday, he tweeted: "Early night for me tonight. Big game tomorrow so need the rest. Not used to playing 2 games in 5 days! Hope it's 3 games in 8 days tomorrow!"

Meanwhile, Ferguson has dismissed the idea that Manchester United are in the midst of a golden era after reaching three of the last four Champions League finals.

"This is not a golden period for us because we've lost two of those finals," he said. "I think we've been consistent in the Champions League and our away form has been outstanding, but we hope we can do better this year and win it. That's the aim of this club all the time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.