Federico Macheda knows he will get more chances if Wayne Rooney leaves Manchester United – but he would still prefer to have the England striker at Old Trafford.
With Rooney and Michael Owen ruled out through injury, Dimitar Berbatov rested and with Javier Hernández only playing 10 minutes in preparation for Sunday's trip to Stoke, Macheda carried the United attack against Bursaspor in the Champions League last night.
At times it looked too much for the 19-year-old Lazio academy graduate, even if Sir Alex Ferguson felt it was excellent experience.
However, with games piling up and the possibility remaining that Rooney will never pull on a United shirt again, Macheda might have to get used to the added pressure. It is not a responsibility he is shirking. But he would rather Rooney was around to share the load.
"There would be more chances for me if Wayne wasn't here but it is better to have him in the squad," said Macheda. "He is a good striker. The squad is stronger with him here."
But Macheda does not agree with Rooney's assessment that the current United squad lack quality. The Italy Under-21 forward insists trophies are still the aim for Ferguson and his team.
"We are capable of challenging for major trophies," he said. "We have a great squad. We work hard every day to win things."
Macheda's team-mate Michael Carrick has, meanwhile, warned his Manchester United colleagues not to get sidetracked by the furore surrounding Wayne Rooney.
"You have to distance yourself from it," he said. "You have no choice. Obviously, the player and the club are huge, not just in England but around the world. It is big news. But we can only control what happens out on the pitch. That is all we can be focussed on."
