Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov is his first-choice strike-partnership.

Owen is likely to feature in today's home FA Cup third round tie against Leeds or the first leg of United's Carling Cup semi-final away to Manchester City on Wednesday, but Ferguson believes the Rooney-Berbatov alliance will grow stronger and emulate the best partnerships he's had.

The United boss said: "There is a combination, they are suited as a partnership.

"The understanding has grown. Some partnerships click straight away, like Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. That was uncanny. It just happened.

"When I bought Yorkie my thought was maybe he'd partner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Teddy Sheringham. But when Yorkie and Cole played together it was unbelievable.

"Hopefully Rooney and Berbatov will go on in the same way. Berbatov was carrying an injury that was affecting his game and he wondered if he should have an operation.

"But he's come through that now and we hope he can have a good second half of the season. He's a talented player."