Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is fighting for his future at Old Trafford.

The Times says Berbatov and Wayne Rooney have never looked a natural fit up front. In the wake of Rooney's permanent switch to the centre this term, Berbatov has been included from the start only once in United's biggest seven matches, the 2-0 league defeat by Liverpool in October.

One of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's many reasons for not signing a striker in January was his fear that Berbatov, a player who needs to feel loved, would view the arrival of another forward as a sign that his days at United were numbered, but his repeated omissions are creating a dilemma of their own.

With Michael Owen uncertain still to be at Old Trafford beyond the summer, offloading Berbatov as well would leave Ferguson needing to sign two strikers, a scenario the manager will be keen to avoid, especially as he would have to take a big hit on the huge fee paid for the Bulgarian. The uneasy union, therefore, could continue for a good while longer.