The 18-year-old is just one of several forward looking vying for a place in United's first team this season. He is however behind in the pecking order to Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and new boy Javier Hernandez, so it is unlikely he will be a fixture in the starting lineup. Macheda burst on to the scene in the Spring of last year as a 17-year-old by scoring a stunning last minute winner against Aston Villa at Old Trafford and another against Sunderland, two crucial goals in United's title success that season. The Italian prodigy has struggled to build on the impact he made that year due to a long-term injury last season, but Ferguson is clearly a fan of the player, but has issues with his over-confidence. "He is one we have to keep a close eye on," said Ferguson. "He has a cocky arrogance about him. He will argue with players in a training session and he will compete for his ego. "But he's only 18, he's not 19 until October and we keep forgetting that. He is an exceptional talent and he is tough. He does not get bullied in games. He gives a good as he gets. "There was no change of us ever letting him go on loan - he stays here. We need to keep an eye on him."
