Fergie considers Macheda loan

Macheda: Favours return home

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is prepared to send Federico Macheda out on loan - if the right club comes calling.

Ferguson feels the Italian striker needs to keep playing regularly having played an increasing role for United's first team this term.

The manager now has Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez back in contention, which has limited Macheda's first-team chances, so he is willing to let the 19-year-old leave on a short-term deal.

Aston Villa, Wigan and West Brom are reportedly interested along with Serie A side Roma and city rivals Lazio, where Macheda started out, but Ferguson insists it must be the right club.

"He has to play," he said. "If a club comes and convinces the player and me that he is going to play then they will be the ones we're thinking about.

Some contact

"He's thinking himself about Italy but I would hope it would be the Premier League. He would go into the Italian league quite easily.

"So far only one club has phoned, but I'm sure there will be more in the next few days."

Meanwhile, Ferguson has admitted he thought he was about to be sacked in 2006 after three years without winning the Premier League title.

Some felt Ferguson had lost his touch as United went their longest period without winning the league since their first title under the Scottish boss in 1993.

But United kept faith with Ferguson, who has been in charge at Old Trafford since 1986 and turned 69 on New Year's Eve, and he responded by moulding another title-winning side, claiming three titles in a row from 2007-09.

He added: "Three or four years ago my shelf life was up. I was out of the door."