Fergie Wants 30

Sir Alex Ferguson feels it is a 'big ask' for Cristiano Ronaldo to score 30 goals in the Premier League, but expects the winger to reach that figure in all competitions.

The Manchester United ace took his tally for the season to 25 when scoring a brace in Sunday's 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup. He is closing on George Best's club record for a winger of 32 goals in a campaign, and has only failed to score in two of his last 15 appearances.

But while his United boss expects him to break the 30-goal barrier, Ferguson believes reaching that landmark in the league could be beyond the Portugal international.

"With Ronaldo having scored 25 goals already there is the potential for him to score 30 this season, without question," said Ferguson in The Sun, with Ronaldo having scored 17 in 19 league appearances.

"He's not that far off and has a strong chance. I'm not sure that he is capable of scoring 30 league goals, though. I think that is a different matter entirely.

"Achieving that would be more difficult and it's a big ask, but if he does manage it, I'll pay him more money!"

Meanwhile, Owen Hargreaves admits that it is now almost a 'surprise' when Ronaldo does not score, following a run of 23 goals in 19 games.

"Cristiano can do even better," said Hargreaves. "He just wants to be the best and you can see that in him.

"There is no doubt, he will get there - if he is not there now. It has got to the point now where you would be surprised if he didn't score."

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