MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Alex Ferguson has hailed the flexibility of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie as a forward partnership.

Both players have started the season in fine form, sharing 12 goals between them.

Ferguson feels that playing the duo together will not diminish their production in front of goal as they are able to rotate roles during matches.

“There’s flexibility there and the right type of movement,” Ferguson told reporters. ”They also both have the courage to play in these positions. Robin’s not far away in that respect.

“They’re both mobile players and good footballers with a great desire to play and win. I don’t think you saw the best of them as a partnership against Arsenal.”

Rooney has dropped into an attacking midfielder’s role in recent games, an example of the versatility on offer to Ferguson. Van Persie has stressed that the players’ mobility in attack is a key ingredient of the partnership.

“You have two positions, the nine and the 10, and we are both nine and a half,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports. ”We are just helping each other out. We both play behind and a bit higher up. It seems to be working well and I am very happy with Wayne – hopefully we can keep it going.”

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