Continuity the key for Fergie

SIR Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United are a different proposition heading into the second half of the season as injuries start to ease.

United welcomed back a trio of key defenders in Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Rafael da Silva at Hull on Sunday and immediately looked stronger than the side humbled by Fulham last week.

The champions still needed to battle hard to shake off a determined Hull but their eventual 3–1 win left them well placed behind leaders Chelsea midway through their Barclays Premier League campaign.

Ferguson told MUTV: “It was a bonus having two centre–backs back – it made a heck of a difference to us.

“Hopefully in the next few weeks Jonny Evans will be back. As for Rio Ferdinand we will have to wait and see.

“But I’d think when the European campaign gets going again we should have a strong squad together.

“You’d expect us to get some continuity defensively soon and that will make a difference.”

United have already lost five games this season but such has been the competitive nature of the league, none of their rivals have been able to take full advantage.

United’s victory owed much to an extraordinary performance from Wayne Rooney.

The England striker opened the scoring and then set up United’s two clinching goals after committing the mistake that led to Hull’s penalty equaliser.

United went back ahead when Andy Dawson turned a Rooney cross into his own net and Dimitar Berbatov tapped in their third after a superb pass from his strike partner.

The in–form Rooney has now scored six goals in his last six games.

Berbatov believes United are now well placed to launch yet another title charge.