Michael Owen has revealed Dimitar Berbatov fancies himself as a Franz Beckenbauer-style sweeper.
Berbatov turned in an eye-catching performance on his first start for Manchester United this season.
However, the Bulgarian's contribution to United's 3-0 Carling Cup triumph over Leeds at Elland Road did not come in a manner fans are used to.
In the opening minutes, Berbatov twice cleared off the line, helping to provide the platform from which the visitors attacked with venom.
Then, at the end, Berbatov stepped into the central defensive role vacated by cramp-affected debutant Ezekiel Fryers for the final 10 minutes.
And how well Berbatov did too, as United kept their third clean sheet of the season.
"Berba can play there," smiled Owen.
"He does it occasionally in training. It was no surprise when he put his hand up and said he would do it."
With his route to a first-team striking slot blocked and both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic sidelined through injury, the 30-year-old may have more success if he remains at the back.
After all, he could conceivably be the fifth-choice forward when Ferguson comes to consider his team for next Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Basel, when Javier Hernandez is expected to return from the injury he sustained against Chelsea at the weekend.
The glimmer of opportunity offered by Hernandez's absence at Stoke this weekend dimmed through a combination of Danny Welbeck's return as a substitute following three weeks out with a hamstring injury and Owen's two-goal salvo at Elland Road.
It took Owen's run to 11 goals in 12 starts, although it could hardly be described as recent form given the sequence began in October 2009, proving Berbatov is not the only one finding it difficult to force his way into Ferguson's plans.
"I am very satisfied," he said.
"It is great to play in such a good team that is so full of confidence.
"We killed the game in the first-half. They didn't want to lose by five or six, so they stuck one up front and made it a bit more compact after half-time.
"We managed to contain them and they hardly had a kick until the last minute. All in all, it was a good night."
Certainly the old tribal rivalry that characterises these fixtures was consigned to the stands such was the disparity in ability on the pitch.
Regrettably, visiting fans let themselves down with their Istanbul chants, in reference to the two Leeds fans who were killed in Turkey during 2000.
Although the home supporters did not respond with songs about the Munich air crash inside the stadium, there were related issues outside, proving that there is still work ahead of both clubs if they want to reduce the antipathy to more acceptable levels.
For Ferguson, it is an issue for others to resolve.
He is quietly going about masterminding another successful season, all the while ensuring he replenishes talent within his squad.
The sight of Paul Scholes leaving the stadium was both a reminder of what Ferguson is having to do without this season, and how well United have coped.
That the average age of United's starting line-up was older than the one for Sunday's victory over Chelsea emphasises the revolution currently under way at Old Trafford.
And there is another potential infusion of youth just behind, with Paul Pogba and Larnell Cole introduced for their debuts as second-half substitutes, in addition to Manchester-born Fryers, who loved every second of his senior bow.
"It was massive. Quality. To play against Leeds at Elland Road was a really big step for me," he reflected.
"It is all about working with the reserves now and getting even fitter so I am ready to take a chance like that again."
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