Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez fit to start against Bolton

The Mexican known as Chicharito, who has missed the beginning of the season after suffering a concussion during the pre-season tour of the United States, scored for his country last week in a 1-1 draw with Poland in a friendly.

The 23-year-old, who enjoyed a dream debut season last term as his goal-poaching instinct propelled him up the pecking order to become Wayne Rooney's regular strike partner, came off the bench in the 8-2 win over Arsenal in their last league game.

"He's ready, he's been training really well. The only issue was how much time we gave him after his head knock but he's fine," Ferguson told a news conference on Friday.

"He played two 45 minutes for Mexico, scoring in one of the games... that's terrific."

Ferguson was glad to come through the two-week international break with no new injuries and only captain Nemanja Vidic, fellow defender Rafael and striker Danny Welbeck remain sidelined.

With a trip to Benfica for their Champions League group opener coming up on Wednesday, Ferguson seems likely to stick with many of the youngsters who have driven Manchester United’s lively start to their title defence for the short journey to Bolton

"I don't anticipate any real changes tomorrow," Ferguson said.

That includes 20-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea.

The Spaniard was given a hard time by critics after making errors against Manchester City in the Community Shield and against West Brom in their league opener and Bolton have promised to test his skills at dealing with aerial threats.

"I'm sure there will be a few crosses going in," Bolton striker Kevin Davies told reporters on Thursday.

Ferguson backed his young keeper to deliver.

"Each game that comes along is a new challenge," he said. "He got a different type of experience against West Brom, he actually did very well in terms of dealing with it but didn't get protection from the referee at the time which was disappointing.

"He's bound to be better protected than against West Brom I think."

United top the table on goal difference from neighbours Manchester City with both sides having made a perfect start to the season with three wins out of three.

Fergie: Only Xavi Or Iniesta Could Replace Scholes

Manchester United were keen to bring Wesley Sneijder to the club this summer but a deal could not be agreed for the player.

Speaking to the Italian media at an awards ceremony at University of Rome Tor Vergata, Sir Alex Ferguson has today claimed that whilst Sneijder is a great player, he’s still not on a level with Paul Scholes, who retired this summer.

At the end of the Champions League final in May, Andres Iniesta was the first to Scholes, asking him to swap shirts. Our manager reckons it is only him, or his team mate Xavi, who would be capable of replacing Scholes.

 

“Sneijder is not the ideal replacement for Scholes,” said Ferguson. “He’s a fantastic player but he was not who we were looking for to replace Scholes. Only Xavi and Iniesta are comparable to Scholes.”

Wayne Rooney will break my record, says Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton is backing Wayne Rooney to smash his record as United’s all-time top scorer and believes the striker is the Class of 2011’s version of Eric Cantona.

Rooney’s set piece hat-trick against Arsenal last Sunday saw him gatecrash the Reds top ten of goalscorers.

The 25-year-old ended his man of the match performance against the Gunners with new United figures of 152 in his seven years at Old Trafford.

Rooney signed on transfer deadline day in 2004 and burst into the scoring charts with a hat trick on his debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

Since then he has been steadily climbing the list and now stands in ninth position behind Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, Joe Spence, George Best, Dennis Viollet, Jack Rowley, Denis Law and number one Sir Bobby Charlton.

Rooney declared after his treble in the Reds 8-2 destruction of Arsenal that he wanted Charlton’s record. He has 98 to go before he overtakes the 60s legend.

“Wayne Rooney has the potential to be a great player at United for another decade so he can do it,” Sir Bobby told M.E.N. Sport.

“And nobody would be more pleased than me if he achieved it. He’s a good lad who listens. He’s very easy to talk to because he is very attentive.

“Sometimes I will say something to him and he always takes it in. He’s willing to take advice and act on it. Wayne’s a unique player who will try things that other players won’t try.”

Twelve months ago Rooney’s career was at a crossroads. Physically and mentally the Reds striker looked in a mess.

Unbeknown to all but a privileged few insiders at Old Trafford he had refused to sign a new deal with United.

On the field his form was mysteriously poor. He’d had a dire World Cup in South Africa with England and the ankle injury he’d suffered in Munich against Bayern was still troubling him.

Off the field headline-hitting problems were adding to the struggle.

But it all came out in the wash, he signed a new five-year Old Trafford contract and dismissed suggestions he was ever going to join the City revolution down the road and Rooney got his act together in the second half of the campaign.

His contract concerns surrounded United’s ambitions but this summer the Reds have answered with a £50m-plus splash in the transfer market.

The revamped Champion’s injection of new young blood has freshened up the dressing room.

The departures of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown and John O’Shea has seen Rooney rise up United’s age order.

And Charlton believes the added responsibility has brought out a new dimension in the striker.

“I think he has responded to all the new young players around him,” added Sir Bobby.

“When the David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes era began they had Eric Cantona to look up to. They learned from him.

“We have a similar sort of young group coming through now and I think Wayne has responded to the new responsibility in the same way Eric did.

“What Cantona did for that group in 1995 I think Wayne can do for the current new generation. He has blossomed as a result of having these younger lads around him.

“It is a two-fold thing just as the Class of ’92 responded to Eric Cantona, so Eric responded and his game got even better. Wayne is doing the same now.

“Both parties can benefit from it. The young players will learn from Wayne and he’ll get something from them. He’s happy and seems to be enjoying and thriving on his new responsibilities.

“I can always remember our youth coaches going on about this young kid at Everton years ago. When your staff goes on about someone like that you never forget it.

“I was just glad when we got him. I wasn’t worried last season I am just glad he is playing for us and nobody else.”

Rooney spent £30,000 at London clinic to have a hair transplant during the summer because he was stressed about going bald.

The new head of hair has certainly given him renewed confidence and he’s got his off-field life back together and says he is now in a happier place.

Rooney has never been a work shy character but he admits that time off this summer has also helped him storm out of the blocks this season with five United goals from the three opening matches.

“The best thing for me was the five weeks in the summer when I did nothing, no training at all,” says Rooney.

“I wanted the rest I haven’t had for a while and I feel it’s benefited me. The fitness coach gave me a programme to follow - but I left it behind.

“I honestly didn’t lift any weights or run, nothing. It’s helped me, and then I’ve had a good pre season and started the season well. I just had to.

Smalling prefers life at centre-half, despite Fergie and Capello's right-back insistence

In the big time: Chris Smalling (right) lines up with Joe Hart (centre) and John Terry

Chris Smalling insists he is still a centre-half, even though Sir Alex Ferguson and Fabio Capello insist on picking him at right-back.

Meteoric does not quite cover Smalling's rise from non-League football with Maidstone United via Fulham reserves to being first-choice right-back for Manchester United and England, all within three years.

The 21-year-old was collecting his A-level results this time in 2008 - he achieved three B grades at economics, media studies and business studies - and had only just signed his first professional contract with Fulham.

'Things keep happening so quickly that I haven't really been able to take stock of it all,' he said.

'I have no idea why I wasn't picked up by a club at an early age. I was finishing sixth form when I was spotted, so it happened relatively late for me. I didn't expect England to come along so quickly.

'My aim for the season was to play as many games as possible for United and to take it from there. I played a few games at right-back in pre-season, but so did Phil Jones because we had lost players like Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

Three-sy peasy: Smalling celebrates with Terry and Rooney (left)

'It was a case of seeing who would fit in, and I did OK. But my aim is to play in central defence.

'I want to be challenging Rio (Ferdinand) and (Nemanja) Vidic for their places because that's where I feel at my best.'