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Fergie revelling in selection headache

Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney looked good against CFR Cluj © PA Photos

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Sir Alex Ferguson feels he is spoilt for choice in the attacking department, which provides the Manchester United boss with a selection headache.

The summer capture of Robin van Persie allows Ferguson to pair the Dutchman with England's finest attacking option in Wayne Rooney. With Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa also available, Ferguson can shuffle his pack and formations.

The Champions League win over CFR Cluj was the first time Rooney and Van Persie had been paired together and they gelled - as Rooney created two goals for his team-mate in a 2-1 win - much to Ferguson's delight.

"We played really good football the other night," Ferguson said at a press conference ahead of the clash with Newcastle on Sunday. "It was interesting to play Rooney and Van Persie together. It gives us options.

"Our strength is in our attacking options. We had Shinji on the bench and I've also got to think about [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs and [Michael] Carrick now which heightens the problem of picking teams. Hopefully I pick the right one."

Rio Ferdinand has been in the spotlight this week, missing out on the England squad after Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson reportedly said on a train journey that the defender's international days were probably over.

Ferguson did not want to be drawn on the saga, but believes it will benefit United if Ferdinand continues to miss out for his country.

He said: "I am not going into that, but I am happy as at his age he should be protecting himself as best as he can. By doing that he will be far more important to me than England."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.