Sir Alex Ferguson asks Danny Welbeck to be patient

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has assured striker Danny Welbeck that he will get his chance to play as a centre-forward.

The 21-year-old has struggled to play regularly for the Red Devils this season and has often featured on the left flank to accommodate experienced strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

"With Robin coming in and when we've got Wayne as well, you tend to rely on the experience of these players," said Ferguson. "They are great players too. What we have to try and do is alternate selections so that Danny feels he is making a contribution.

"At the moment, we have tended to play him wide left. I think he's capable of playing there. He is a threat coming in off the wing and he has done that many times. But I think he is a natural centre-forward.

"Danny's best form has actually been with England. He has not had the opportunities with us to play centre-forward all the time. But that will come."

United travel to Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.