Fergie ready to unleash Rooney

First Rooney has to be eased into the team. That's why he will get a taste of first-team football when United take on Fenerbahce in the Champions League at Old Trafford tonight.

United have four first-team games before meeting Arsenal. Most would consider Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy - together they cost United the thick end of £50million - the dream ticket with the teenager playing just a little behind the Dutch striker.

The options for Ferguson involve Louis Saha, a £12m signing from Fulham, and Alan Smith, a £7m acquisition from Leeds, but I think these two will occupy the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-Teddy Sheringham roles this season, rising from the substitutes' bench to make late impacts.

Ferguson has finally got what he had for four golden seasons between 1998-2001, when United won the Premiership title three times. That is, four top-class strikers.

Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, who both scored at the rate of a goal every other game, led the United attack during that period with spectacular effect. Sheringham and Solskjaer rose from the bench with equal success.

Their scoring rate was not as high, but the goals they netted were often more important. Ferguson was able to keep them all happy. Will the same apply now, especially as Saha and Smith are young, recent arrivals?

United great George Best has already said that if he was manager, Rooney's name would be the first on the team sheet every week. I wonder whether Saha and Smith agree.