Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't believe Michael Owen can play alongside Wayne Rooney in attack.

Fergie is trying to get Owen more games to prove his worth.

But with his current team set-up, he does not know how it is possible.

The United chief's preferred side is Rooney with inconsistent Dimitar Berbatov in behind.

Ferguson said: "We like to see Wayne Rooney going through the middle.

"Everyone knows Michael is a last-defender player, there is none better than that - his movement and positional sense in the last third is excellent.

"It is difficult to play two directly through the middle in the modern game.

"Michael needs games and we are going to try to solve that problem as his training form has been good. It is just the blend of your strikers.

"Sometimes we play with the one striker, which suits us, given the strength we have in midfield.

"Michael is not out of the equation at all, he will come into it. There will be times we'll change the pattern of the team - Wayne can't play every game anyway.

"If we want to retain his freshness for the important games ahead, we will have to make changes."