Berbatov pays the price for Scholes' resurgence

Paul Scholes' renaissance has meant that there is no easy way back for Dimitar Berbatov. The striker on whom Sir Alex Ferguson spent £30m has started just one of United's last seven matches and played no part in either the defeat of Milan in the Champions League or the Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester City.

Ferguson said that the success of a midfield anchored around Scholes meant the situation was unlikely to change. "It is harder for him when we play three central midfielders," he said yesterday. "We could have played him in Milan, there is no doubt about that, but I think the threesome of Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher have created a consistency and level of performance that makes it difficult to change them, particularly in these kind of matches."

Worryingly for Berbatov, he has been almost entirely absent from Manchester United's games against fellow members of the Big Four. He was substituted in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in October, did not feature at Chelsea and played one minute of the resounding 3-1 win at Arsenal last month.

Ferguson added he would happily offer Scholes a new contract. The 35-year-old has hinted that this season might be his last and as yet there have been no talks with the club over a fresh one-year deal.

"It all depends on what Paul himself thinks but you saw his performance on Tuesday in Milan. His form in the last few weeks has been incredible," he said. "There is no need for him to think about retirement as some were saying a few weeks ago." Nemanja Vidic, another whose future at Old Trafford is uncertain, may play for the first time this year after making what for Ferguson was a frustratingly slow recovery from a nerve problem in his calf.