Sir Alex Ferguson reckons Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda have the X-factor required to be a success at Manchester United.
The Reds manager has chosen the Mexico striker Hernandez and Italian star Macheda as the players to rival Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, once fit.
Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf will go on loan to get regular games and gain further experience.
Hernandez, 22, made an instant impact in his first match for the club after arriving from Chivas Guadalajara, scoring in the 5-2 victory against the MLS All-Stars.
Macheda, four years younger, bagged a brace - the first after 24 seconds - and Ferguson believes both players have bright futures.
"I need to keep Macheda and Hernandez, " said the United boss. "There was a lot of purpose in the way they played their football.
"To play for a club like this is not just about talent. You need something else and they've got something else. I am pleased with that."
Ferguson believes Hernandez has similar qualities to England striker Rooney, who skipped the summer tour following the World Cup.
It was a cool finish by the new recruit, who only joined the squad this week after playing in South Africa, where he scored two goals for his country.
Ferguson said: "If we are talking about a combination with Wayne, I think we would need to adjust a bit. They are similar types of players.
"We will assess Hernandez really well and make sure we can bring him to good consistent form.
"There are still little things to do but not a great deal. One he gets used to our training I think he will be okay."
Veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was impressed with the way Hernandez took his chance - a delicate lob from the edge of the area into the net - after stepping off the bench.
"We scored some top quality goals and we're all delighted that Hernandez got himself on the scoresheet in his first game, " said the 39-year-old Dutchman.
"He looks very sharp and has a good eye for goal. You could see his quality from the first chance he had just before he scored. The finish for his goal was tremendous."
Hernandez's goal sparked wild celebrations among the 70,000 supporters at the Reliant Stadium, hardly surprising given that nearly one million Mexicans live in the Houston area.
So his return to Guadalajara tomorrow for United's final tour match should be something special.
Hernandez, who will play a half for each side, said: "I don't how I will feel yet but obviously this is an effort by all the people who supported me.
"From the start of my career I owe everything to Chivas and thanks to them I am where I am now."
The only downside was an ankle injury sustained by Gabriel Obertan which is expected to rule the French winger out for two weeks.
What is the pecking order of the United strikers? Have your say.
Ferguson sees United qualities in Macheda and Hernandez
July 29, 2010
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Edwin van der Sar and Federico Macheda defend against MLS All-Stars
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
fed up with it, sale (29/07/2010 at 15:34)
Eric7, Salford (29/07/2010 at 15:38)
With Rooney playing as our spearhead last season it will be interesting to see, as fergie says, how the partnerships work as Macheda and Chicharito both seem to play as the furthest forward striker, maybe he will put Rooney back "In the hole" behind one of those two, i personnaly saw that as Rooneys best position when he first joined us
Doc Savage (29/07/2010 at 15:51)
andrew kainesy (29/07/2010 at 15:54)
Drago 34 (29/07/2010 at 16:01)
..............................Van Der Sar.....................
Rafael..........Ferdinand..........Vidic..........Evra
Valencia........Fletcher.............Ozil...........Nani
...................................Rooney........................
.................................Hernandez.....................
JeffBert, Cambs (29/07/2010 at 16:14)
Red Apache, was Didsbury now Wilmslow (29/07/2010 at 16:28)
Kiko and Hernandez first choice in Carling Cup and FA Cup against lower teams.
I was also thinking trying out Valencia with Flethcer in central Mid, Nani on RW and Obertan on LW when fit. And also give Fabio a chance on the LW in the Cups if we have Evra or O'Shea covering LB
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (29/07/2010 at 16:50)
Rob Hunter (29/07/2010 at 16:58)
Excellence Of Execution, (E of E) (29/07/2010 at 17:04)
On Diouf, isn't it possible that his fee could rise to £5m? If that's the case, and he's not playing enough, then WHY haemorrhage money on him in the first place? Talent going to waste again. These guys should be seeing 30 minutes every other week, be trusted more as substitutes, or even having the occasional start against the so called weaker teams. Can't say I'm happy about this, but I'll wait and see.
Paul S (29/07/2010 at 17:33)
Paul, Whalley Range
Enzie, Red Heaven (29/07/2010 at 18:09)
I do have high hopes for Wellbeck, certainly the best thing to come through the ranks for ages and I hope he gets given the chance. Is there any point in him going out on loan to Sunderland/Newcastle (where they already have a lot of strikers), Blackpool (where although he may get game time, he wont touch the ball). If anything WBA would seem like the best destination where he'd get sufficient minutes in a footballing team.
Alexander Bebov (29/07/2010 at 21:45)
Jo, swinton (29/07/2010 at 22:25)
i bleed Man United, Botswana (30/07/2010 at 06:36)
Sean Miester General, Manchester (30/07/2010 at 09:24)
Berbatov offers a different option, and when playing in the premier league it is always good to have a Plan B, when things arent going well.
I feel united and city both have the ability to change plans if something isnt working. We have seen in the past that Arsenal have no back up, neither do Chelsea when Drogba isnt firing, Anelka isnt likley to step up. So i think United will win the title this year with our variety.
tooth&claw, manchester (30/07/2010 at 10:27)
Macheda offers something different to our other strikers. He's not as talented as Welbeck, by any stretch of the imagination, he's not as fast as Diouf, he's not as good at finding space or playing on the shoulder as Hernandez. But he's a big lump who's skilful and confident and can put himself about and has an eye for goal. His physical presence and his physical maturity are what mean he stays and Welbeck goes out on loan. Welbeck needs a year to get the core strength in his legs. Diouf's speed is trumped by Hernandez's speed and better technique. So Macheda provides an option that Diouf can't. Next season, if Danny works hard and stays clear of injury, he'll start to take over from Berbatov and our four major forwards will be Rooney, Welbeck, Macheda and Hernandez.
bobbydazzler (30/07/2010 at 11:04)
mark my way diouff will go the way of those other two signings manucho and the dong. he is big and fast and that is it he can trap a ball farther than most can kick it
Doc Savage (30/07/2010 at 12:10)
"he is big and fast and that is it he can trap a ball farther than most can kick it "
Always seeing the upside! He's better than Dong, though, but I do agree he's still looking comparable to a Manucho.
T&C,
I would guess that it's also because Welbeck is more trusted to be out on loan than Macheda is and he is also more receptive to it.
tooth&claw, manchester (30/07/2010 at 12:59)
I guess there's some of that, plus it's good for Danny to have new horizons and a change in surroundings. Macheda, of course, already has that.
Doc Savage (30/07/2010 at 13:18)
I think it's only the fact Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen and Rooney are around that mean Macheda's current level can be carried. Maybe they even want to challenge/break him, given that he didn't want to go out on loan this time; but if Berbatov was sold then I'm sure the second striker would be between Hernandez-Welbeck, rather than Macheda and anyone.
Drago 34 (30/07/2010 at 13:29)
Rooney - Berbatov - Hernandez - Macheda - Owen with Welbeck going on loan to a PL club.I feel this kid will be a superstar in the year's to come.He is also a striker who can play on the wing's which makes him very flexable in formation's.Can't make my mind up on Diouf yet.He needs a year on loan to see how good he is.But you have to ask if he is as good as..
Rooney = No
Berbatov = No
Hernandez = No
Macheda = No
Owen = No
Welbeck = No
So it does'nt look good for him at the moment. But if he performs on loan and develops then he has a chance.
tooth&claw, manchester (30/07/2010 at 14:11)
Supposition, of course, but I think SAF sees a little of himself in Macheda. The burly centre forward, happy to put it about a bit.
I also think that we have 'types' in the squad. Hernandez and Owen are of a type, Berbatov and Welbeck are of a different type, Rooney's a one off, combining those two types and Diouff is a greyhound. That leaves Macheda as the only 'robust' centre forward type that we have. That means that he's a different option. SAF has wanted to get players in in that 'type' (Dong and Manucho being two that he got in but didn't measure up). So despite being 'less' than Welbeck and Hernandez he's in the squad because he's nothing like Welbeck and Hernandez. You need variety, you need options, it takes all sorts. It's Friday. Thank God.
Paul S (30/07/2010 at 14:17)
In this role in a 4-5-1 formation, ahead of two other central midfielders, Berba would be able to use his sublime vision and passing skills to maximum effect, supplying Rooney or Hernandez, as well as the wingers. He would not then be expected to put in the type of running expected as a striker.
This position could be tailor made for his talents, as there are few footballers out there possessing his magical skills, vision and passing ability. I could also see him weighing in with 10-15 goals a season from this position, which would be more than decent as a midfielder.
Add the likes of Scholes, Giggs, Cleverly, and potentially a new signing, and the midfield would be well served with creative options. When you then consider the strength of the defence, as well as the striking and wing options at our disposal, particularly with the exciting promise of Hernandez, and potential emergence of Obertan, and we have every reason to believe that greatness is beckoning our beloved reds once more.
I certainly believe that we have the players in the squad to wreak havok with just about any opposition!
Paul, Whalley Range
manu expert (30/07/2010 at 15:08)