Fergie confident in striking options

HANGZHOU: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he has "strong options" up front going into the new Premier League season after all his strikers caught the eye on their tour of Asia.

New signing Michael Owen continued a fine start to his United career in the final match of the preseason tour, netting a brace in Sunday's clash against China's Hangzhou Greentown to add to two goals in Malaysia.

Speaking after the 8-2 rout of Hangzhou, Ferguson said his intention on the tour had been to rotate his front men - Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and teenager Federico Macheda - as he weighs up his options following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.