Ferguson sees future in Rooney and Tevez

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced that Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney can prove to be the perfect striking partnership at Manchester United.

United's pursuit of Tevez is now heading for the courtroom as the Argentina international's representative Kia Joorabchian tries to prove that his move to West Ham was strictly a temporary affair.

Although Ferguson remains optimistic the case will eventually be resolved to his satisfaction, he can do nothing more than wait for a verdict and hope it is delivered by the 31 August transfer deadline.

Once Tevez is signed, the United manager believes he will have an array of attacking talent capable of striking fear into any defence. He has heard the doubters, who claim Tevez and Rooney are too similar to appear in the same side.

But, not only does he refuse to give them any credence, he feels, with Rooney deployed in a slightly more advanced role than he has occupied previously in his career, the pair can be devastating.

"I know people say both players like to drop behind a mean striker, but if you look at the FA Cup final against Chelsea, Wayne played up front on his own and was absolutely fantastic," Ferguson said.

"That is where I see his future anyway and that is why I believe he can play in the same side as Carlos Tevez."

Ferguson has always felt Tevez could be a Premier League success, but shied away from signing the 23-year-old 12 months ago because he was not sure about the precise nature of the transfer. Given the strife West Ham have found themselves in, the Scot's judgement has been proved correct.

Feeling that the complications had been smoothed out, Ferguson reignited his interest in Tevez towards the end of the season. And it was on the final day of last season at Old Trafford when the striker scored the brilliant goal that kept West Ham up, that United's manager was finally convinced a partnership with Rooney would be a match made in heaven.

"On that final day, Carlos showed against us, as he had done against plenty of others before, that he can be a real threat." Ferguson said.