Fergie Facing Striker Headache

Sir Alex Ferguson is aware he could face a tough task keeping all of his Manchester United strikers happy this season.

The partnership of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez proved so potent last term that it kept joint Golden Boot winner, Dimitar Berbatov, out of the side for the big games towards the end of the campaign.

And the recent return of Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck from loan spells away from Old Trafford, as well as Michael Owen's new one-year deal at the club, means Ferguson has a six-strong battery of frontmen.

Given such numbers, it would be no surprise if Ferguson utilised the loan system once more, or even sold Berbatov - as looked likely when he did not even make the bench for May's UEFA Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at Wembley.

For now, Ferguson has to try to squeeze them all in.

"The problem for all the strikers last year was that the form of Hernandez was just too good," said Ferguson.

"We couldn't leave him out, which caused a headache for me.

"I am going to be picking from six strikers, which isn't a bad thing but sometimes that can be a confusing aspect of team choices."

Ferguson is one striker down for the opening section of United's five-match tour of the United States, with Hernandez currently taking a well-earned break after winning the Gold Cup with Mexico.

Teenager Macheda, who spent the last six months on loan at Sampdoria in Serie A, bagged two goals against New England Revolution in United's 4-1 friendly win on Wednesday.

"Macheda's finishes were first class," said Ferguson."He is special. At 19 years of age, we still have great hopes for him."