Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson 'Not Surprised' By Javier Hernandez's Impact
Posted Saturday, October 30, 2010 by YAHOO Sport
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists that he is "not surprised" by what Javier Hernandez has done so far this season.
The young striker has filled in during Wayne Rooney's absence, and has scored five goals in his last six appearances for the club.
25-year-old Rooney sustained an ankle injury in training last week, and is now on holiday after being given time off by the club. And although the initial reports pointed towards a return in three weeks' time, it appears that the forward could be sidelined for longer than expected.
This would likely put the Mexico international in the team for the upcoming Manchester derby on November 10.
"We are not surprised because we identified a lot about him before we signed him. We did a lot of work on him," Ferguson told reporters.
"Seeing him in pre-season and training we thought he would do well.
"He is young and wants to learn and he comes from a really good football pedigree. He speaks the language and that is important.
"Everything is in his favour.
"We are all pleased. Everyone is really excited to have him at the club. He has done really well.
"His winning goal on Tuesday [against Wolverhampton Wanderers] demonstrated again that he is a very good finisher."
When quizzed as to whether Rooney would return as expected, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."
He added: "There is no recovery - it is just rest.
"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."
Rooney's issues concerning his private life, and subsequently his contract situation, made all the news in recent times. But the Scot insists that his charges have regrouped since, as they prepare to welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford.
"The players are focused," Ferguson said. "That is the important thing.
"It was a good result for us [last] Sunday, a strong result in the sense of we know how difficult it is to go to Stoke.
"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.
"But they galvanised themselves really well.
"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."
In the meantime, the United boss has admitted that a tough game is in prospect, despite Spurs not having registered a victory in their last 67 matches against a so-called 'big four' side away from home.
"We have certainly seen a new Tottenham over the last couple of years," said Ferguson.
"I think their progress has been excellent under [their manager] Harry [Redknapp].
"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.
"They have got a massive game on Tuesday [against Inter] but they have been to Milan and did very well to recover with 10 men.
"These are interesting times for them, so we expect a hard game tomorrow."
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