Sir Alex Ferguson is pinning his hopes on forgotten man Alan Smith to guide Manchester United through their ill-timed striker crisis.

Less than a fortnight after Jose Mourinho claimed United were getting all the luck in the battle for silverware, the injury curse has struck Old Trafford.

While lengthy absences for Darren Fletcher and Mikael Silvestre, who dislocated his right shoulder against Lille, are a cause for concern, it is the problems up front which will give Ferguson the most headaches.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out for another fortnight following minor knee surgery and Louis Saha sidelined for four weeks after suffering a hamstring strain in training on Tuesday, Henrik Larsson's return to Sweden could not have come at a worse time.

Ferguson's proclamation that he 'would do anything' to keep Larsson suggests the Scot is not convinced about his alternatives for the Premiership home games against Bolton and Blackburn which follow Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough.

Wayne Rooney did not look totally at ease in the win over Lille, while Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo lack the physical prowess of most orthodox strikers.

However, in Smith, Ferguson knows he has a man on a mission.

The former Leeds striker has already been forced to abort one comeback from the horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle he suffered at Anfield last February.

But, having started his second return attempt with a late substitute appearance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, Ferguson feels Smith is ready to meet the challenge now being placed in front of him.

''We are asking questions about how we rotate the squad and who should play up front. Alan Smith comes into that,'' said Ferguson.

''As soon as we scored I knew it was effectively the end of the game, so it was a great opportunity to give Alan a share of it.

''He will be involved again at Middlesbrough on Saturday and is certainly back in the frame.''

Smith is hardly a renowned goalscorer, finding the net just once last season and not at all in his five outings this term.

But Ferguson has not forgotten how prolific the 26-year-old was immediately after his controversial move from Leeds.

After rejecting the chance of a loan move away from Old Trafford, Smith has hugely impressed Ferguson with his determination to regain full fitness.

''Alan has had a terrible time,'' admitted Ferguson.

''It has been difficult because we thought he was doing well in pre-season but he didn't show that when we played him against Southend and Crewe.

''We put him on a programme of speed work right through December, but he has had to wait."

With Paul Scholes about to start a three-match ban, Ferguson's squad will be stretched more than at any point this season.

''We had injuries at the start of the season and adapted. That is exactly what we will do now.''

After four successive away wins, United have now ground out five solid rather than spectacular victories on the trot.