Sir Alex Ferguson

Louis Saha's injury record in recent seasons has almost rendered him as Manchester United's forgotten man, but Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the French striker may now hold the key to this season's title race having finally been given the all-clear to resume his stop-start career at Old Trafford.

Saha, a £12m signing from Fulham in January 2004, is in contention to make his first Premier League start this year against his former club at Craven Cottage this afternoon as United aim to maintain the pressure on the faltering leaders Arsenal.

The French forward has made just 83 Premiership appearances, which have produced 28 goals, since arriving from Fulham four years ago and the succession of knee and hamstring injuries that have befallen the player have forced Ferguson to scour the globe for a new centre-forward during the last two summers.

With his pace, physical power and goalscoring ability offering United an extra dimension, however, Ferguson admits that Saha's presence between now and the end of the season -- injuries permitting -- is a timely boost for the club's hopes of claiming silverware.

Ferguson said: "We try to do our best with Louis in terms of his physical preparation, but it has never got to the position where he has let his injury problems really get him down.

"He's come back time and time again and shown in training, and when he plays, the goal threat that he has and that he is so different from any other player we have.

"If you're talking about up front, that's the area we're trying to freshen up all the time, so Louis coming back is a great bonus for us. I can play Tevez, Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs and Saha through the middle and I think we need that.

"In the run-in, there will be times when they're not all available and with Saha back, it's an optimum time to capitalise on his worth to us because he is a marvellous player."