Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney faces a huge battle to get back into the team.
Javier Hernandez has taken advantage of Rooney's absence to score three times in his past two games and Ferguson faces a dilemma whether to continue with the summer signing alongside Dimitar Berbatov or retain his faith in Rooney - who could be out for longer than first feared - despite the England international having been in the worst form of his professional life since the late stages of last season.
Berbatov has seven goals this season and Hernández, signed from Chivas de Guadalajara for £9m, has six, despite starting only five games. Rooney, in contrast, has managed one goal for United in the past seven months, a penalty against West Ham on 28 August, and his slide means he cannot be guaranteed a return to the side when he has overcome an ankle problem that could keep him out of at least three more games, including the derby at Manchester City on 10 November.
"His [Hernández's] performances have dictated that," Ferguson said. "We had a feeling he would break through and, therefore, it gives you a [selection] problem, but the right kind of problem. It will be difficult [leaving Hernández out]. I'm not even suggesting he will be left out. He's keeping his place in the team because he deserves to keep his place in the team."
