Fergie hopes to unite old and new: Manchester United 3, Burnley 0

Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping the old and the new can combine to produce another successful Manchester United title challenge.

For so much of the season, United have appeared below their best and it was the same again as they laboured for over an hour against Burnley.

Eventually Dimitar Berbatov made the breakthrough, setting the Red Devils on their way to a 3–0 win over the Clarets that was rounded off by a goal from new–boy Mame Biram Diouf on his home debut.

While Ferguson was delighted his side’s dominance was finally rewarded, Wayne Rooney slotting home a 16th goal of the season in the process, he was equally pleased with the clean sheet that marked Edwin van der Sar’s return to action.

He broke two fingers during a pre–season game in Munich, injured his knee against Everton in November and then had to endure the horror of wife Annemarie suffering a stroke in their native Holland just before Christmas.

But fit and available after a week’s warm weather training in Qatar, Ferguson had no hesitation in drafting Van der Sar straight back in for only his eighth appearance of the season.

Before his latest absence, Van der Sar was mulling over whether to sign another year’s extension and also an offer to return to international combat at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

Such decisions have been put on hold given the situation with his wife (who is now recovering), though the resumption of his career is a positive sign.

If Van der Sar’s presence will bring a defensive stability that can only be enhanced by the imminent return of Rio Ferdinand, possibly for next Saturday’s re–arranged game against Hull, Ferguson has a dilemma in attack.

Replacing Rooney with 20 minutes left was an obvious acknowledgement of tomorrow’s crunch Carling Cup semi–final with Manchester City at Eastlands.

The departure of Berbatov at the same time was recognition the Bulgarian was feeling more discomfort from a knee injury.