Ferguson lauds United depth

Sir Alex Ferguson believes his present Manchester United squad is as good a team as he has produced in his 26 years at Old Trafford.

United lead the Premier League and also remain in both the FA Cup and the Champions League, giving them a chance to replicate their historic treble triumph of 1999.

Key to their success has been the form of strikers Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck, a quartet that has been compared to the combination of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 14 years ago.

“When you look at those lads up front, if they can each get to the 20 mark, we will really be in business,” Sir Alex told reporters after their 4-1 thrashing of Fulham in the FA Cup fourth round.

“The options we’ve got now all round the park, if we can keep everyone fit, are as good as I’ve had in my time here.”

United face Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday and resume their Champions League campaign with the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid on February 13.

On Sunday they were drawn to face Reading at Old Trafford in the only all-Premier League tie of the last 16 of the FA Cup.