Source: Team_Talk
Hernandez success no surprise to SAF
Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not surprised by the early success of Javier Hernandez, who has become a firm favourite at Manchester United.[LNB] Javier Hernandez's spell in the spotlight is set to continue with Wayne Rooney facing a longer spell out than first thought.[LNB]Rooney is currently on holiday in Dubai after being given time off to rest an injured ankle.[LNB]The 25-year-old suffered the injury in training last week during an extraordinary few days that started with him expressing a desire to leave the club but ended with him signing a five-year contract.[LNB]Rooney was expected to be out of action for three weeks but manager Sir Alex Ferguson today said he thought it could be longer.[LNB]That would almost certainly rule the England striker out of the potentially explosive derby against Manchester City at Eastlands on November 10.[LNB]With Michael Owen also sidelined, that could mean an extended chance for summer signing Hernandez, who has impressed with four goals in his last four games.[LNB]The 22-year-old Mexico international struck twice, including a late winner, in last weekend's crucial Premier League victory over Stoke and followed that up with another decisive goal against Wolves in the Carling Cup.[LNB]Ferguson has been impressed by the way he has settled since his move from Guadalajara but never had any doubts he would succeed.[LNB]The Scot said: "We are not surprised because we identified a lot about him before we signed him. We did a lot of work on him.[LNB]"Seeing him in pre-season and training we thought he would do well.[LNB]"He is young and wants to learn and he comes from a really good football pedigree. He speaks the language and that is important.[LNB]"Everything is in his favour.[LNB]"We are all pleased. Everyone is really excited to have him at the club. He has done really well.[LNB]"His winning goal on Tuesday demonstrated again that he is a very good finisher."[LNB]Ferguson needs Hernandez to maintain his current form, and Dimitar Berbatov to reproduce his performances of the early campaign, to keep to spotlight away from Rooney's lack of goals.[LNB]Rooney had struggled for form all season before getting injured, netting just once for United in the first two months of the campaign.[LNB]When asked today at a press conference if Rooney was still on target to return in line with the initial three-week prognosis, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."[LNB]He added: "There is no recovery - it is just rest.[LNB]"Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest - we're quite happy with that."[LNB]Rooney's position at United dominated the headlines throughout last week but the team started to put the issue behind them with their hard-fought 2-1 win at Stoke.[LNB]Ferguson says it is no longer an issue as United prepare to host fellow Champions League challengers Tottenham at Old Trafford tomorrow.[LNB]"The players are focused," Ferguson said. "That is the important thing.[LNB]"It was a good result for us on Sunday, a strong result in the sense of we know how difficult it is to go to Stoke.[LNB]"The good part for me was coming back from losing a goal. Given our record this year of losing late goals, it could have been a killer for us.[LNB]"But they galvanised themselves really well.[LNB]"They played their best football in that five-minute period after they scored and then after our second goal. It was a good lift for everyone."[LNB]Ferguson is now expecting a tough battle with Harry Redknapp's Spurs, who, after finishing fourth last season to qualify for Europe's elite competition, are again riding high in fifth.[LNB]Spurs are just two points behind third-placed United and boast two of the competition's most in-form attacking players in Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart.[LNB]Ferguson said: "We have certainly seen a new Tottenham over the last couple of years.[LNB]"I think their progress has been excellent under Harry.[LNB]"He has brought a consistency to them and I think the area which is new for him is coping with the Premier League and a European league.[LNB]"They have got a massive game on Tuesday (against Inter Milan) but they have been to Milan and did very well to recover with 10 men.[LNB]"These are interesting times for them, so we expect a hard game tomorrow."[LNB]Owen is likely to be out for another four to five weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in training just as he was poised to return from a groin problem.[LNB]Veteran Ryan Giggs is still out with a hamstring injury but should return to training on Monday.[LNB]
