Fergie urges Berbatov to step up and stake his claim

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Dimitar Berbatov to raise his game if he wants to win back his place.

Berbatov is the Premier League’s top scorer with 21 goals, but has been edged out of the picture at Manchester United by the stunning form of Javier Hernandez.

Wayne Rooney’s suspension today means Berbatov will be handed a rare start, but his boss told the 30-year-old striker he is no longer considered an automatic choice.

“It’s unfortunate for Dimitar, because he’s a fantastic player,” said Fergie. “But the reasons are obvious – the emergence of Hernandez in the last couple of months has been startling.

“He’s improving all the time, he’s getting stronger and it’s very difficult to leave a player out when he hits that kind of form.

“Every player has faced that at some point in their career, when another player emerges to challenge you. That’s the horrible part of being a footballer.

“That’s why players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are driven to make sure their standards are really high and anyone who takes their place has to be good. That’s the great challenge footballers have.”

Despite his goal glut this season, Ferguson does not seem to trust Berbatov when it comes to United’s big games, preferring to start with Rooney and Hernandez in attack – as he did for both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.

Berbatov had notched up 20 goals by the end of January but has scored just twice since then.

Moreover, the £30million striker has started eight of United’s last 10 games on the bench, compelling proof of his fall from grace.

Despite being demoted to third-choice striker, and with just one more season left on his contract, United are expected to exercise a one-way clause in their agreement with Berbatov to extend his deal by a further year – as much to protect his market value as anything else.

But while Berbatov has been left to brood over his continued omission, with his long-term United future uncertain, Hernandez, with 18 goals this season, continues to flourish, Ferguson admitting even he had been stunned at the impact made by the 22-year-old in his debut season.

“No, to be honest I didn’t [expect so much],” said Sir Alex.

“When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived here we told him his first season was all about integration, getting used to the club, the players and the training. We did exactly the same with Javier.

“In particular, with him having come from South America, we felt it would take him time to bed in.

“But he’s been unbelievable. He has a natural instinct to move about the box. There have been a few top strikers with that quality – Solskajer was one.

“Gary Lineker probably never scored a good goal in his life, you know what I mean? It would always come off his chest, his shin or get a rebound off the goalkeeper.

“But he was always in really good areas, good positions, and Hernandez has that natural talent to move around the box and make space. And his timing is terrific.”

Ferguson is confident his players can overcome City today and take another significant step on their bid to emulate United’s Treble triumph of 1999.

“Our record in semi-finals over the years has been good and we hope that continues,” said Fergie.

“We have a great momentum, the players are in form and go into the game confident.”