Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is in awe of Javier Hernandez's gut-busting runs off the ball.

Ferdinand claims his team-mate's movement off the ball is behind his incredible goal-scoring feats since moving to Old Trafford in the summer of 2010.

Asked by Inside United magazine why fellow centre-backs struggle to keep the Mexican quiet, Ferdinand said: "Not a lot of strikers make the sorts of runs he does.

"It's physically demanding - you have to be really fit to make those movements for 90 minutes.

"If I was a coach I'd tell every young striker that he should take note of how Chicharito plays, because that's what you have to do if you want to be a top footballer. It will certainly give you a head start.

"The other day I reviewed Chicharito's first goal against Bolton, when he ran across the front post and poked the ball in at the near post.

"But before he made that run he made two other movements to shake off his defender. And when a striker makes those types of run, it's incredibly hard to defend against him.

"I think if I was a coach then I'd put that goal on DVD and I wouldn't even send my team out to train - I'd just make them watch that goal because that shows you all you need to know."