Ferguson aims for a Man Utd century

When becoming champions in the 2009-10 season Chelsea returned 103 goals, the only time a club has broken the century barrier in the Premier League. United's best is 97 in 1999-2000, with last season's 93 from Manchester City the third highest. "We have 15 goalscorers this year [in all competitions] and it is definitely helping us at the moment," Ferguson said, The Guardian reported.

The Scot takes United, who lead Chelsea in the table by a point, to Aston Villa on Saturday, and he said of reaching 100 this campaign: "It would be nice to think we could do that. That season in 2000, when we were one goal short of 100 in the league [actually three], the last game was at Villa Park - we had the opportunity but didn't quite make it.

"The satisfying thing for me is the goals around the team. Fifteen different scorers is quite healthy. It's getting ridiculous now because [Jonny] Evans and [Patrice] Evra have scored two - they've doubled their tally in their careers. But we will take them from anyone. As long as the strikers are scoring and we [are] winning matches."

Van Persie has followed his £23m arrival in the summer by instantly hitting top form. "He's experienced. His eight years at Arsenal helps, and he's come to us at the right time," Ferguson said. "He's got us 11 [in total] goals so far and Chicharito's [Javier Hernández] on six and getting back to what he was a couple of years back, and a summer's rest has helped him enormously. He's looking fresh and aggressive with his running always a handful. Wazza [Wayne Rooney] will get to 20 goals plus this season I'm sure of that, once he gets into his stride. It's a healthy combination we've got up there."

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