Fergie: It's tough to drop Diego

The Uruguay international scored his fifth goal of the season to earn a 1-0 win over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Champions League and Ferguson is tipping him to emulate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and become a major success at Old Trafford..

And after a difficult start to his Manchester United career - Forlan went for more than six months without a goal - Ferguson believes the former Independiente forward has established himself at Old Trafford now.

"We bought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at 24 and he has developed fantastically well. I'm confident Diego will do the same," said Ferguson.

"What has helped him is having the chance to play regularly. He is improving all the time and that is five goals now this season, which is a good return from the games he has played.

"Whenever you buy a young player, you know you are not getting the finished article. What you have is potential.

"When we signed Diego we had just lost Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham and we were looking for a young striker."

Ferguson hinted that Forlan could win a place in the United team to face Chelsea on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.

"He has established himself now. Sometimes, tactically we prefer to play one man behind a central striker but the form he has shown recently, it is difficult to leave him out," he added.