Comeback is no 'fluke': Manchester United's most-frightening strikeforce are bred to overwhelm, insists Alan Shearer

FRIGHTENING: United's attacking force

By Dean Wilkins

All-time Premier League scorer Alan Shearer is branding Manchester United’s attacking force as ‘the most frightening’ force Sir Alex Ferguson has ever had.

The Reds came back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on Saturday – a record seventh time in the Premier League – after Javier Hernandez pulled a woeful United back on track.

And despite Fergie’s selection headache, Shearer insisted that choosing between Hernandez, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck is a quality problem that surpasses the 1999 treble-winning strikeforce.

“Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez is the most frightening array of attacking talent Alex Ferguson has ever had,” he said in his column with The Sun.

“And, yes, I include the fantastic four from 1999 of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.”

The United chief has set the 100-goal barrier as his striker’s main target for this season, they are currently on course to reach that target with 29 in 11 matches so far.

But the 12-time Premier League winners are not forced to rely on their frontmen to grab goals as 13 different players have contributed to their tally of 43 this season.

Rooney limped off on Saturday with an ankle injury and has been forced to miss England’s friendly with Sweden on Wednesday and will be a concern for the Scotsman.

Former England captain Shearer hailed the partnership between Rooney and Van Persie, claiming they have been a shining light for United.

“Van Persie is the main man and his link-up play with Rooney makes it look like they have been together for years,” he added.

“Then we have Hernandez, the hat-trick hero from Villa Park on Saturday.

“And yes it was a hat-trick for me, no matter what the dubious goals panel or whoever say about his second.

“I can see Van Persie, Rooney and Hernandez all hitting 20 goals plus this season.”

Hernandez’s second strike was given as a Ron Vlaar own goal after ricocheting off the defender into Brad Guzan’s net.

Van Persie curled in a sumptuous free-kick for Chicharito to header in the late winner for United, and sink Villa to their 18^th year without a home win over the Reds.

It is the eighth time this season that Sir Alex’s men have come from behind to win, and Shearer praised the team’s resilience for not letting their heads go down.

“This is no fluke. It is not as if it is just this Manchester United team either,” he added. “Every team Ferguson has produced does this.

“While a lot of teams subconsciously wind down in the final minutes of a game, Ferguson’s play with a vigour, energy, belief and determination that overwhelms opponents.”

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