ALEX FERGUSON rarely gets its wrong when it comes to signing strikers.
But the loan recruitment of Swedish legend Henrik Larsson is one of the biggest surprises in Fergie’s 20 years as Manchester United boss.
Take a look at five frontmen who played key roles at Old Trafford after Ferguson splashed out.
Eric Cantona
United fans voted the moody Frenchman as the club’s greatest ever player - and he was surely Fergie’s most inspired signing.
Cantona’s record of 78 goals in 190 games barely hints at the influence and artistry he showed in his five years at Old Trafford after joining from Leeds in 1992. Shrewd Ferguson built United’s free-flowing side around his £1.2million signing. And Wayne Rooney is the only forward who has created the same aura since then.
Wayne Rooney
Ferguson’s £20m capture of Britain’s brightest prospect since George Best was as predictable as it has been successful. Rooney, still just 21, has hit 43 goals for United since leaving Everton two years ago. And - alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha - the England hero offers Fergie the most exciting attack in the Premiership. Rooney’s all-round potential is almost limitless, prompting United to hand him an extra six-year deal last month.
Andy Cole
Cole’s arrival at Old Trafford forced Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan onto the steps of St James’ Park - to explain the £6m transfer to angry Toon fans. He went onto notch 121 goals in six years with United, forming with Dwight Yorke one of their greatest ever strike-partnerships. The duo’s poaching skills were matched by their pace and instinctive understanding, especially when United won the ultimate treble in 1998-99.
It was Cole, though, who was taken off near the end of the European Cup final against Bayern Munich - before substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conjured a 2-1 victory with stoppage-time goals.
Dwight Yorke
Quick, elusive and clever, Yorke pounced for 64 goals in 130 games after United lured the Aston Villa ace for £12.6m. His first season at Old Trafford ended with 29 goals, plus winner’s medals for the European Cup, Premiership and FA Cup.
The Trinidad star was just as consistent the following term, netting 23 times. And in 2001-2 his threat in the penalty area was underlined with a treble inside the first 22 minutes when United thumped Arsenal 6-1.
Teddy Sheringham
The England striker’s £3.5m signing, aged 31, showed just how canny Ferguson is. The England target man gave United new options, retreating to link play with the midfielders and offering rare power in the air.
He was as important coming off the bench as when starting, notably with his bundled equaliser in injury time during United’s European Cup final win over Bayern Munich. Sheri returned to Spurs in 2001 after a four-year stint at Old Trafford that brought 47 goals at his best-ever Premiership strike-rate of almost one every two games.