Ferguson Set to Give Hernandez a Start

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Javier Hernandez has picked himself in the starting line-up after a stunning display in United's 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Hernandez has had an impact from the United bench on a number of occasions this season, in both the Champions League and Premier League, but has moved quickly to shake the 'super-sub' tag. The 24-year-old scored a brace to recover his side's two-goal deficit at Villa Park, in similar fashion to the Champions League win over Braga last month, and after pushing for a starting spot all season, Hernandez is set to be rewarded in next week's clash with Norwich.

"He's fresh this season. He had a good break over the summer and the way he was when he first came to us is what we're seeing today," Ferguson said. "That is his natural thing. He's fantastic in the penalty box with his movement, quickness and being in space."It's got him three goals in this game. When you score a hat-trick, you pick yourself. I think he'll be playing next week. Hernandez replaced Ashley Young at half-time and found the net just 13 minutes later before forcing an own goal out of Ron Vlaar and scoring the match winner three minutes from time. But he remained coy about his own achievements, insisting the win was more important than scoring goals for him.

"It's not important who scored the goals," Hernandez said. "What's important is that Manchester United is top of the league."We came back from two down and that's great. It was not in my mind that I was going to change the game. I just wanted to do my best and do what the gaffer told me. He said just to do what I do in training - to run in behind and move the defenders. "United have often had to come from behind this season after making slow starts, but Ferguson believes that resilience to pursue a result is crucial for top teams.

"We put pressure on ourselves but we got through it," Ferguson said. "I think that it's a little lesson that we really need to be better defensively. I admire the players and the tenacity of the performances. When they are needed, they do it. Our attacking play is terrific at times." It was an absolutely magnificent result for us and a magnificent game, I must say. Aston Villa were fantastic and worked their socks off. But you have to feel sorry for them after the effort they put in. But we never give in and hit the bar twice. Once we conceded the second goal, we came alive."

Ferguson: United not Reliant on RVP

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United do not rely too heavily on in-form recruit Robin van Persie.

Van Persie joined United from Arsenal in the summer and has started his life at Old Trafford brightly, netting 11 goals in his first 14 games.

The Netherlands international started the Red Devils' midweek clash with Braga on the bench, but made a significant impact after coming on as a substitute, raising questions over United's ability to play without him in the line-up.

Ferguson's men have so far won every game in which the 29-year-old has scored en route to the top of the Premier League table and beyond the Champions League group stage.

"I don't think it's a problem relying on Robin," he said. "Last year, we lost (the title) on goal difference. I don't expect us to lose on goal difference again."

Van Persie has been likened to his compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy since making the move to United, but Ferguson dismissed the comparison.

"Robin is a very different player to Van Nistelrooy," said Ferguson. "Ruud was a penalty box player. Robin has a different understanding of the game.

"I never thought we'd get him. There was always the feeling that Arsenal would find a way to get him to stay. But once he made his mind to leave we firmed up our interest because he is one of the best in the business."

This Saturday, United will face Aston Villa, a club which Ferguson has enjoyed great success against in recent years. The Scot expressed his concern for his compatriot and Villa counterpart Paul Lambert on the eve of the clash.

"It is a daunting task as Villa are not where everyone expects them to be," Ferguson said. "Paul Lambert has done well as a manager and is still young.

"But it does take time to change teams and you wonder if the managers changing has a big effect on the playing standards of the team because they have had quite a collection over the years."

Meanwhile, Ferguson confirmed he expects captain Nemanja Vidic to be back for the packed festive programme.

"I think it's Christmas time for Vidic," Ferguson said. "If we get him back for Christmas, then I'll be happy. There's been no setback but we cannot take any chances after his cruciate."

Ferguson Favours Pep for United Job

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to now favour Pep Guardiola as his eventual successor at Manchester United.

On Tuesday, the club's vice-chairman Ed Woodward said that the Old Trafford hierarchy know what "type of manager" will succeed Ferguson, while it was reported in the Spanish press in the summer that Ferguson had met Guardiola in New York.

ESPN has learnt, however, that chief executive David Gill and a member of the Glazer family also met the former Barcelona manager, who left his role at the Camp Nou after four successful years, at that time.

While a United source said that the meeting was "informal", the future is understood to have been discussed.

For his part, Guardiola is known to view United as a particularly attractive proposition. Although he retains interest in Chelsea, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, the Catalan is said to find the sense of history and atmosphere at Old Trafford especially enticing.

In his entire Barcelona career as both a player and manager, Guardiola - who, as a player, was targeted by Ferguson but ultimately signed for Brescia - faced United more than any other English side, and a Catalan source said the club have always fascinated him.

Ferguson and United do not just see Guardiola as one of the few coaches with the required strength of personality to take on such a massive job after the Scot eventually retires, but also an ideal fit given his commitment to both youth and attacking football.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has previously been seen as Ferguson's successor-in-waiting but, although the Red Devils manager retains a good relationship with the Portuguese, other members of the club's hierarchy - particularly Bobby Charlton - are said to be less keen due to a perceived short-term approach.

While the expected date of Ferguson's retirement remains, as ever, undetermined, the manager is widely known to want a significant say in who succeeds him and for the necessary structures to be put in place beforehand for a seamless transition.

When Ferguson was last expected to retire in 2002, only to perform a U-turn, he expressed his dismay that the club had lined up Sven Goran-Eriksson. The United boss criticised the Swede for "not changing much" at his teams.

He is now determined to ensure there is no repeat of that situation and that the right person is in place to prolong his legacy.

On Tuesday, chief executive Woodward said: "We have a view as to what type of manager we want and how and when we'll go about it. But it's in the drawer and long may it stay in the drawer."

Van Persie and Tiote Escape Charge

The FA will not be charging Manchester United's Robin van Persie over an alleged elbow on Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye in their Premier League game at the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was angered by the challenge, which happened off the ball, and called for the FA to investigate it.

But the matter has not been taken further after match referee Howard Webb reviewed footage of the incident and said he did not consider it to have been violent conduct.

The FA also said no action would be taken against Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, who appeared to stamp on Tom Cleverley's leg.

Speaking after his side's 3-0 defeat, Pardew said: "He [Van Persie] has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him, and I think that perhaps needs to be looked at if I am honest.

"There's a bit of history from last year [an incident involving Van Persie and goalkeeper Tim Krul] and I don't know if Robin has been caught up in that, but that was just a little bit unsavoury.

"I actually thought Yohan wouldn't have gone down if he hadn't done something. I didn't see it myself, but I have obviously seen it on the replay and it looks like he has looked at him and put his elbow there."

Fergie: RVP can Better Last Season's Tally

Sir Alex Ferguson "would love" Robin van Persie to top last season's tally of 37 goals and believes that Manchester United's chances of success this season could depend on the Dutchman and Wayne Rooney both proving prolific.

The pair were the top scorers in the Premier League last season and scored 72 goals in all competitions between them, with Rooney, 26, getting 35 for United. 

The England international is yet to open his account for the current campaign but Van Persie, 29, has seven goals in six starts since leaving Arsenal for Old Trafford.

The Netherlands international enjoyed a career-best goal return last season and Ferguson hopes he can improve upon it this year.

"I would love that to happen," Ferguson said. "The refreshing thing for me is Robin's doing extra work in training because he's not had many pre-season games.

"It's quite remarkable considering he's got seven goals. I'm pleased with that and I think his fitness will improve even more."

Rooney has made two starts since returning after sustaining a deep gash to his thigh in August's 3-2 win over Fulham.

But he could begin a league game for the first time since United's August 20 defeat to Everton when they travel to Newcastle on Sunday.

And Ferguson hopes that he can join his team-mate Van Persie as a regular on the scoresheet.

"I think that, in my experience, where we are at the moment you need two strikers who are going to get you over 20 goals a season," Ferguson said. "If you get that, you definitely have a really good chance."

Rooney created both of Van Persie's two goals in Tuesday's 2-1 Champions League win over Cluj, but while the Dutchman only has one assist for United, Ferguson believes his new signing is just as capable of being a supplier as a scorer.

"He is a good passer of the ball," he added. "I think he's got good vision in his passing, too. The goal he made last week for [Shinji] Kagawa against Tottenham is evidence of his passing ability."

Evans Available for Newcastle Clash

Jonny Evans has been passed fit to take his place in Manchester United's defence at Newcastle on Sunday. The centre-back sustained a dead leg in last week's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham and limped off in the 2-1 win over Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday. 

But Sir Alex Ferguson, who only has one other fully fit central defender, confirmed Evans is available to partner Rio Ferdinand at the Sports Direct Arena.

Had the Northern Irishman been out, then either midfielder Michael Carrick would have had to play in defence or 21-year-old Scott Wootton would have been given a Premier League debut.

Instead, the United manager expects his defensive injury crisis to ease with the news that Chris Smalling, who had broken a metatarsal bone in his foot, has resumed training.

The England international will not be available to face Newcastle but is on the comeback trail.

"Jonny Evans is okay," Ferguson said. "He had a dead leg that he picked up on Saturday against Tottenham and we just took him off towards the end [in Romania].

"Smalling has started training on the football side and that helps us particularly as we have problem at centre-back. [Phil] Jones is still out."

United will welcome back three experienced midfielders on Sunday with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Carrick all returning to the squad.

Scholes was rested for the trip to Cluj while Giggs and Carrick were sidelined by a virus.

Ferguson also hopes that Ashley Young, who has been out for a month with a knee problem, could be available for Stoke's trip to Old Trafford on October 20.

He added: "Young will start training while the internationals are on, particularly in the second week, and could at a stretch be back for the Stoke game."

'Fair' Price Sought for Reported Man Utd Target

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway will demand a "fair" price for reported Manchester United target Tom Ince.

United are said to be keen on Ince, 20, with the club linked with making a £4 million bid for his services in the January transfer window.

Ince, the son of former Red Devils midfielder Paul, has made 40 Championship appearances for Blackpool, scoring 12 times, and he won his first cap at England Under-21 level last month.

Holloway is confident the future is bright for the attacking midfielder, but is keen for him to continue his development at Bloomfield Road for the time being.

He said in the Sun: "I can't keep our players, but I'm working with them to get them to a United or an Arsenal.

"If we are not successful this year Tom may get there before I can, so do I want to stand in his way? Probably not. But we deserve a fair amount of money for him.

"I don't think (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain and (Theo) Walcott are better than him. If Arsenal had bought him, he would be playing for England now."