SIR Alex Ferguson is convinced Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney can prove to be the perfect striking partnership at Manchester United.

United's pursuit of Tevez is now heading for the courtroom as the Argentina international's representative Kia Joorabchian sets about trying to prove his move to West Ham was strictly a temporary affair.

Although Ferguson remains optimistic the case will eventually be resolved to his satisfaction, he can do nothing more than wait for a verdict and cross his fingers it is delivered by the August 31 transfer deadline.

For, once Tevez is signed, the United boss believes he will have an array of attacking talent capable of striking fear into any defence.

He has heard the words of the doubters, who claim Tevez and Rooney are too similar to appear in the same side.

But, not only does he refuse to give them any credence, he feels, with Rooney deployed in a slightly more advanced role than he has occupied previously in his career, the pair can be devastating.

"I know people say both players like to drop behind a mean striker but if you look at the FA Cup final against Chelsea, Wayne played up front on his own and was absolutely fantastic," Ferguson said.

"That is where I see his future anyway and that is why I believe he can play in the same side as Carlos Tevez."

Ferguson always felt Tevez could be a Premier League success but shied away from signing the 23-year-old 12 months ago because he was not sure about the precise nature of the transfer.

Strife

Given the strife West Ham have found themselves in, the Scot's judgement has been proved correct.

Feeling the complications had been smoothed out, Ferguson reignited his interest in Tevez towards the end of the season. And it was on the final day of last season at Old Trafford when the striker scored the brilliant goal that kept West Ham up, that United's illustrious manager was finally convinced a partnership with Rooney would be a match made in heaven.

"On that final day, Carlos showed against us, as he had done against plenty of others before, that he can be a real threat when he is pushed a bit further forward," said Ferguson.

"He can beat a man, which is a major asset. That is the real advantage of having someone like him on board.

"Of course, Wayne can also drop in and give defenders a problem, so between the two of them I think they can become a real handful."

Tevez's eventual arrival is likely to come at the expense of Alan Smith, who is part of United's Far East squad but is also mulling over a firm offer from Middlesbrough.

Departure

If Tevez is given the green light to complete his move to Old Trafford, Smith's departure appears inevitable.

In sending half a dozen promising squad men, including Giuseppe Rossi, Gerard Pique, Johnny Evans and Danny Simpson, out on loan last season to further their education, Ferguson was then hit by a spate of injuries which left him desperately short on numbers.

The United boss is adamant that had he been able to give some of his key men a rest, the outcome of his side's Champions League semi-final against AC Milan would have been markedly different.

So, having seen one European campaign wither away in such disappointing fashion, Ferguson is not about to make the same mistake again.

"I have to make sure we have a strong enough pool this season," he said.

"When we reached that AC Milan game, we didn't have enough freshness in the team to do ourselves justice.

"It was a big blow and one of the reasons why I am quite keen to get the young lads back who were on loan last year.

"They may not play quite as regularly if they stay with us but I actually think they will develop their game better by training with the first team.

"And, the added advantage is if we do get those injuries again, we will have a much better back-up."

Do you agree with Ferguson's tactical view? Have your say.