Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits Wayne Rooney's quality in front of goal means he's unlikely to persist with the striker in midfield.

Ferguson has not lost sight of the fact his star forward has already contributed 12 goals to the United cause this season, and 158 overall in a United career now into its eighth year.

It is not a tally he can afford to abandon.

"Strongly is not the appropriate word," said Ferguson, when asked about the level of thought he was giving to turning Rooney into a permanent member of his midfield until.

"It is conditional on the midfield players I have available.

"Tom Cleverley is injured. Michael Carrick just started training and wasn't available on Wednesday. I was limited in my choice.

"There was a thought we might play Phil Jones there but we decided on Wayne.

"He has the appetite for it. He has the energy levels and I thought he did that really well.

"But I am not putting any marker down for that position.

"When you have a player who has scored 12 goals so far, you want him to be in positions where he can get you more goals. That is where he normally plays."