Manchester United boss Ferguson hails Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez

Manchester United's summer acquisition, Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has been touted as the next Solskjaer after a performance against Marseille which invited gasps of joy from none other than his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 22-year-old scored in either half, building a potentially deadly partnership with Wayne Rooney, sending United into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 scoreline.

After the game, an excited Ferguson admitted that he was surprised at the rate at which Chicharito has developed.

Fergie said, We are surprised. When we bought him we thought it'd take him time to adjust. He has adjusted to the physical part very well and is lasting 90 minutes.

Acquired for a reported fee of £6-8m, Hernandez is increasingly looking like the bargain buy of the season, as he has adapted well and scored 16 goals in 33 appearances since his arrival. What will be particularly enlightening for United, and Ferguson, is his burgeoning partnership with Wayne Rooney.

Fergie continued, It (the partnership) has been developing well. Where Wayne has been playing in the past couple of games he is a real threat. He has such power and speed and Hernandez is unbelievable with his movement. The boy has goals in him.

Rooney was also full of praise for his young strike-partner. He told BBC Radio 5 live, He's a fantastic player. He's in good form; it's nice to see him scoring and nice to play with him.

He always tries to stay on the shoulder, looks in behind and he's a quick player. By making

those runs in behind defenders it creates a bit more space for you in front of them. So it's working well at the minute.

When queried whether Hernandez was the buy of the season, Rooney said, I think so, definitely. He's been fantastic and works so hard as well. He wants to improve and it's good to see.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was downbeat in his post match interview, and believed that his side were unlucky to have been eliminated. He said, My first feeling is one of regret. We let our chance slip and we are out. Manchester United are not a fantastic side and they suffered two injuries during the game. They were not at their best but we could not capitalise on that.

But we are a young side, who are learning, and it will take time. At this level small details win you games. Our aim at the beginning of the season was to get to the last 16 and we have achieved that. So in a way we have done reasonably well.