Chicharito Ready To Fire

He was United's Player of the Season last term but Javier Hernandez has "not got his season going yet" - admits his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Things didn't start well for the Mexican striker when he suffered concussion towards the end of the Reds' pre-season tour of America. A freak ankle injury in the win at Aston Villa in early December sidelined the striker for a couple of weeks, while the impressive form of Danny Welbeck has also reduced Chicharito's starting opportunities in attack.

"Chicharito has had his issues this year," said Sir Alex on Friday. "He had that concussion, then he had another head knock and then an ankle injury. He has not got his season going yet, but he is looking well now.

"His form in training is fantastic. He is looking really well. That is a bonus because you want variations in the striker's position. If we get Hernandez back into the frame of things we know what an addition he can be. We know the goals he can score. It will only help us."

Having more options in his squad is exactly what Sir Alex is hoping for as we edge towards crunch time in the title race.

"We have done really well getting to this point with all the injuries we have had," added the manager. "I don’t expect Darren Fletcher to come back. Darren will be out for the season and we know Nemanja Vidic is also out. But if we get the rest back I think that is pretty good. It is a good squad then."