Berba fears allayed

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed talk that striker Dimitar Berbatov will require an operation on a knee injury.

Recent newspaper reports had suggested that the Bulgarian could be out for up to three months but, while conceding that Berbatov has been handled with care in recent weeks, the United manager sought to allay fears over the striker's future availability.

"It's not the case," he told the media ahead of United's clash with Wigan. "He’s had a niggle but he’s improved and came through the full game the other night (at Hull).

"We’ve been treating him quite carefully in terms of the number of games he’s been playing, because we know we need him in the second half of the season. But on Sunday he was fine and hopefully it’s gone now."

The Bulgarian completed 90 minutes for only the second time in two months in Sunday's win at the KC Stadium, and bagged his fifth goal of a stop-start season to clinch the Reds' 3-1 win over the Tigers.