Goalscorer Preview - Manchester United v Sunderland: Dimitar Berbatov

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov should relish the chance to lead the Manchester United attack on Boxing Day.

Berbatov has been in and out of the United side for the majority of his career but he has hit his straps this season and has started to justify the £30 million that was paid for his services.

Berbatov has scored 11 Premier League goals so far this season and will be fresh after the match against Chelsea was postponed. It will not be a difficult decision for Sir Alex Ferguson to start the Bulgarian up front alongside Wayne Rooney.

United used a 4-5-1 in their last home Premier League game against Arsenal. Berbatov has all of the skill and quality needed to play as a lone striker but he is more effective with a partner.

He is very clever with his positioning and drops into pockets of space that pull opposition defenders out of place. This means there is more space for his striker partner to exploit.

Berbatov looks to have the best killer instinct in front of goal out of any player in the United squad. He thrives on form and confidence as his hat-trick against Liverpool and five-goal tally against Blackburn Rovers showed.

Berbatov is getting better and better at bringing other players into attacking situations. When he drops off from the top of the attack, he often picks the ball up and waits before he can pass it out wide. This means there is more support on United’s flanks and when Berbatov darts back into the area, he has a greater chance of receiving a superb cross to convert.

When Berbatov is at his very best he carries an aura that demands respect and stinks of authority. If this appears in the match against Sunderland then it could be a very long day at the office for Steve Bruce’s side.

Berbatov is 13/2 to score the first goal and 7/5 to score at any point during the match.