Javier Hernandez has heaped praise on Manchester United strike partner Wayne Rooney, describing him as a 'monster', and says his debut season at Old Trafford has been a dream.

Hernandez has already scored 16 goals this season, many of them vital strikes, and has been in such good form that the Premier League's leading scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, has been relegated to the bench.

Hernandez told The Sun: "Playing with Wayne is a dream. He's a monster to be alongside and I never believed I would get so many games and goals during my first season at United.

"Mr Ferguson's comments are very important for me. He has given me such confidence, he raises my morale and my only hope is that nothing changes."

Despite some trying to dub Hernandez as the 'little Carlos Tevez', he is more concerned with carving out a reputation as a lethal goalscorer in his own right.

He said: "The little Tevez? I'm really proud that people are comparing me to him but I am Chicharito and am living my dreams at the moment.

"I am very happy because I know there is so much more to come. My secret is to study opposition defenders and work out their weak points. I try to outwit them with my speed and anticipation in the area. So my goals are not down to luck.

"Perhaps the better physical preparation here in England is the key to my performances. This aspect of the game is better than in South America and I have profited."

No-one at Manchester United, least of all Sir Alex Ferguson, would claim to have the Barclays Premier League title wrapped up in the middle of March.

But there have been defining moments down the years when you sense that United themselves realise the balance has tilted decisively in their favour. The scenes that followed Dimitar Berbatov's dramatic 88th-minute winner against Bolton said it all.

While most of the United players followed Berbatov to the corner flag to celebrate, a jubilant Wayne Rooney sprinted downfield in the opposite direction, punching the air, and threw himself to the floor. High up in the stands, manager Ferguson and chief executive David Gill jumped around like a pair of teenagers.

In a season when United have made a habit of grinding out results and winning ugly, this one certainly seemed special.

Think of Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd on the pitch after Steve Bruce's late double against Sheffield Wednesday put United on course for their first Premier League title in 1993, or the celebration that followed Federico Macheda's memorable winner at home to Aston Villa two years ago.

'It feels like a huge three points,' said midfielder Michael Carrick. 'It would be nice at the end of the season to be champions and look back and say today was a good day.'

United knew just how big a win this might prove to be in their pursuit of a 19th title, considering the problems they had to face extended far beyond a stubborn and bold Bolton side.

As if successive League defeats by Chelsea and Liverpool were not enough to unsettle them, there was Ferguson stuck in the stands at the start of his five-game ban along with a bunch of unavailable first-team players - and Shakhtar Donetsk' s £15million- rated Brazilian Douglas Costa - even before Wes Brown joined the casualty list at half-time and Jonny Evans was sent off for his challenge on Stuart Holden. But no-one does siege mentality quite like Ferguson and no team pursues a winning goal more relentlessly than United, even when a man down.

Compare that to Arsenal dropping two points at West Bromwich where United scraped to their most undeserved win of the season on New Year's Day. They are now five points ahead of their rivals whose game in hand is away to Tottenham in the north London derby.
Dimitar Berbatov

'That's why they are where they are,' said Bolton defender David Wheater. 'They do this all the time but it's definitely not luck. It's the mentality they've got. It comes from the manager because everyone knows he's a born winner.'

The international break has come at the best possible time for United. Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher are expected back for their next game at West Ham on April 2, and Rafael and John O'Shea will be two weeks further on in their recovery, although Evans is now suspended along with Paul Scholes.

'The break is absolutely fantastic timing for us,' said Ferguson. 'Bit by bit, we can get them altogether and we'll have a great chance.

'It's a great lead. Obviously Arsenal have got a game in hand but we've got the points.'

Scoring the winner was sweet for Berbatov. Axed after those two defeats and criticised so often for not scoring enough crucial goals, this one was every bit as valuable as his decisive strikes against Liverpool at home and Blackpool.

Talk of a new contract and big pay rise for the Bulgarian is somewhat premature, however, with United in no hurry to open negotiations. They have the opt ion to extend Berbatov's current deal by one year, meaning it would run until the summer of 2013.

He could yet face Bolton again in the FA Cup Final as Ferguson's side chase the Treble. Wanderers face Stoke in their Wembley semi-final on April 17 and will not have been pleased with Evans' tackle on Holden, who needed 26 stitches to close a gash near his left knee afterwards.

'There wasn't much blood, there was just a big hole and you could see everything,' said Wheater. 'It wasn't the prettiest sight.

'It looks like Jonny Evans goes over the top a bit. I hope he didn't mean it but sometimes defenders go in like that because they want to take the ball and man. It's hard to not get hurt in those tackles so I just hope Stuart gets better soon.'

Injury-plagued Rio Ferdinand has given Manchester United a timely boost by returning to training just two weeks after manager Sir Alex Ferguson had effectively ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Ferdinand, 32, has been out of action since picking up a calf strain in the warm-up prior to United's shock defeat at Wolves at the start of February.

After making slow progress in his recovery, Ferguson admitted the club were "not looking at this as a short-term situation" but the former England skipper returned to training on Wednesday and, although he is likely to miss the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea, he has a chance of featuring when United welcome Fulham to Old Trafford on April 9.

"He's started training, he trained this morning but I think you know the Friday morning session is not excessive, it's just a light session for the players," said Ferguson.

"I could bring him back tomorrow and give him a few days off afterwards but I think he's more likely to be fit for the Fulham game."

Ferguson may ultimately conclude it is worth taking a gamble given none of his other injured defenders will be back to face Chelsea, whilst a few may be available for Fulham.

Rafael, John O'Shea and Wes Brown could all tackle Mark Hughes' men. But none of that trio will make the trip to Stamford Bridge, when Jonny Evans will be available as he serves a three-match domestic ban.

None of this helps his team selection for Saturday, when Ferguson accepts filling the right-back slot is going to be a major issue.

"We have to solve that and find the right solution,'' he said.

It seems almost certain Brazilian Fabio will fill the void, with Chris Smalling partnering skipper Nemanja Vidic in central defence.

At least Ferguson finally has options in midfield. Park Ji-Sung could make his first start since he left for Asian Cup duty in Qatar, whilst Anderson is likely to be on the bench at Upton Park after recovering from a knee injury it was initially suggested would rule him out for the season.

However, Darren Fletcher is still troubled by a virus, whilst Owen Hargreaves' United career now looks to be at an end following the shoulder problem he picked up in training.

"It is another huge setback for the lad,'' said Ferguson.

Manchester United have trained without striker Wayne Rooney ahead of their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

As required by UEFA, United opened the doors of their Carrington training complex for the first 15 minutes of their pre-match session and Rooney, who will learn his fate later on Tuesday over a possible two-match ban for swearing, did not appear.

There was no official word from the Red Devils as to the reason for the 25-year-old England striker's absence and it is still expected that he will play in the first leg.

However, it is possible that United wanted to keep him out of the spotlight as the club decide whether to contest an FA charge over his use of abusive language towards a cameraman in the 4-2 win at Upton Park this weekend. Rooney could be banned for the next Premier League game with Fulham and also the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley if found guilty.

There was good news for United though as long-term absentees Rio Ferdinand and Anderson both trained, raising the likelihood that they will be involved at Chelsea as Sir Alex Ferguson's men look to gain a positive result that would leave them well placed to secure a semi-final encounter with either Inter Milan or Schalke.

The second leg will played at Old Trafford next Tuesday.