• Alex Ferguson says both players have 'talent and purpose'
• Gabriel Obertan out for several weeks with ankle injury

Sir Alex Ferguson has said he has no reservations about relying on Javier Hernández and Federico Macheda from the start of next season and believes they will ease the goalscoring burden on Wayne Rooney at Manchester United.

The two young strikers were impressive during United's 5-2 victory over the MLS All‑Stars on Wednesday, Macheda scoring two early goals and Hernández, this summer's £7m signing from Chivas Guadalajara, completing the win with an exquisite finish on his debut for the club.

While Ferguson considers streamlining his attack by allowing Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf to go out on loan next season, the United manager insists the 18-year-old Italian and 22-year-old Mexico international are at the forefront of his plans. With Michael Owen still injured, and Rooney returning to training only this week after a post-World Cup holiday, Macheda and Hernández could be required from the start of United's attempt to win the league title back from Chelsea.

The United manager said: "They give us the back-up we are going to need. We've got a decision on whether to let Welbeck and Diouf go out on loan, although I am starting to think about it again. I need to keep Macheda and I need to keep Hernández, who has just joined the club. That is imperative. There is purpose in the way they play their football. It is not just talent. You don't play at this club with just talent, you need something else and they have that something else."

Ferguson described Macheda as "probably the best player going through against the goalkeeper that we have" after the former Lazio youth striker produced a clinical finish against the MLS goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts after just 22 seconds at the Reliant Stadium. The forward has endured a frustrating time with injury since exploding on to the scene with a critical goal against Aston Villa in April 2009 and made only five Premier League appearances last season.

"I had many injuries and was out for almost five months so I couldn't really show my strengths," said Macheda. "But this season I hope to have more chances to show what I can do.

"We have seven strikers so if there is one more or one less at the club it doesn't matter. Every one of them is a challenge to each other. I think this year could be the one for me, I think so because I'm trying to get fit so I can show what I'm capable of doing.

"I just want to stay and grow as a player here. Even if I only play a bit, I will be playing alongside big players and against big teams, so I'm definitely staying here."

Ferguson, who will be without Gabriel Obertan for several weeks after the French midfielder suffered an ankle injury against the All-Stars, was also effusive in his praise of Hernández, who appeared as a 62nd-minute substitute and will play for both United and his former club Chivas in a friendly in Guadalajara tomorrow.

The United manager said: "The one thing that defenders always worry about is players with speed, players who will get into the space behind them. His goal against the All-Stars gave an indication of that speed. The timing of his run – coming towards the ball and then spinning – shows he's going to be a threat to defenders, no question about that.

"How the combination with Wayne will work – I think we will need to adjust a little bit because I think they could both be similar types of players. At the moment we will just assess Hernández and try to bring him to a consistent level of form. He has still got little things to do but not a great deal in terms of technique. Once he gets used to our training I think he will be OK."

MLS All Stars 2-5 Manchester United

Javier Hernández offered a glimpse of the talent that made him the poster-boy for Mexican football and a £7m summer signing for Manchester United with a superb goal on his debut for Sir Alex Ferguson's team, as they beat the MLS All-Stars 5-2. El Chicharito – the Little Pea, as he is known – was on the pitch in Houston for only 28 minutes but displayed an intelligence, understanding and accuracy that augur well for a season that will demand an immediate return from the 22-year-old.

The magnificent 71,000-capacity Reliant Stadium (think the Camp Nou with a roof on) witnessed the finest display of United's pre-season tour thus far from the most recognisable side Ferguson has fielded. The side contained several of the young players the United manager has championed at every turn in North America but did not lack for experience, with Federico Macheda seizing the opportunity to recapture the imagination and to show Hernández is not the only young United striker with rich potential.

Macheda's career has stalled since he exploded on to the scene with that crucial, title-defining goal against Aston Villa in April 2009. The 18-year-old made only five Premier League appearances last season due to a succession of injury problems but, unlike Danny Welbeck, is not being considered for a loan spell away from Old Trafford this coming season. His finishing in the opening moments in Houston explained why.

Only 22 seconds had elapsed when Macheda seized on a careless pass across the MLS defence from the right-back, Kevin Alston, and beat the exposed goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, with a clinical finish into the bottom corner. In the 12th minute the Italian striker doubled United's lead when, from Nani's corner, he was left unmarked on the six-yard line and sent a glancing header beyond the All-Stars keeper.

With Darren Fletcher dominant in central midfield – and striking the crossbar after a neat one-two with Tom Cleverley – United produced a fluid, intelligent display although, and without wishing to introduce a killjoy to proceedings, it should be noted the All-Stars starting line-up was cobbled together from eight different clubs. Several players, including the Landon Donovan, the USA captain who was on the bench, had played in the Concacaf Champions League only 24 hours earlier.

MLS substitute Brian Ching reduced the arrears in the 63rd minute when he lost Rafael easily at the near post and headed David Ferreira's free-kick past Edwin Van der Sar. United responded with two exquisite goals.

After a foul on the lively Hernández, afforded a rapturous reception when introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute, Darren Gibson swept a glorious free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards. Cleverley then latched on to Fletcher's flick into the penalty area, lifted the ball over the defender Wilman Conde with his left foot and volleyed past Nick Rimando in the MLS goal with his right.

The 70,728 crowd, a record for a "soccer" fixture at the Reliant Stadium and the fourth highest for an All-Stars game, got the moment the majority craved seven minutes from time when Hernández marked his debut with a fine finish. Peeling off the shoulder of the last defender, the Mexico striker read Fletcher's ball over the top superbly and, with Rimando advancing, lofted his finish over the goalkeeper. The MLS substitute Dwayne De Rosario reduced the arrears in the 90th minute.

Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Van der Sar; Rafael, Brown, J Evans, Fábio (Scholes, 72); O'Shea; Obertan (Cleverley, 23), Fletcher, Giggs (Gibson, 52), Nani (Hernández, 62); Macheda (Welbeck, 62).

MLS All-Stars (4-1-4-1): Ricketts (Rimando, ht); Alston (De Rosario, ht), Olave (Gonzalez, ht), Marshall (Conde, 63), Pearce (Donovan, 74); Joseph (Davis, 74); Le Toux (Convey, ht), Morales (Moreno, 63), Schelotto (Ferreira, ht), Pappa (Larentowicz, ht); Angel (Ching, ht).

MLS All Stars 2-5 Manchester United

Javier Hernández offered a glimpse of the talent that made him the poster-boy for Mexican football and a £7m summer signing for Manchester United with a superb goal on his debut for Sir Alex Ferguson's team, as they beat the MLS All-Stars 5-2. El Chicharito – the Little Pea, as he is known – was on the pitch in Houston for only 28 minutes but displayed an intelligence, understanding and accuracy that augur well for a season that will demand an immediate return from the 22-year-old.

The magnificent 71,000-capacity Reliant Stadium (think the Camp Nou with a roof on) witnessed the finest display of United's pre-season tour thus far from the most recognisable side Ferguson has fielded. The side contained several of the young players the United manager has championed at every turn in North America but did not lack for experience, with Federico Macheda seizing the opportunity to recapture the imagination and to show Hernández is not the only young United striker with rich potential.

Macheda's career has stalled since he exploded on to the scene with that crucial, title-defining goal against Aston Villa in April 2009. The 18-year-old made only five Premier League appearances last season due to a succession of injury problems but, unlike Danny Welbeck, is not being considered for a loan spell away from Old Trafford this coming season. His finishing in the opening moments in Houston explained why.

Only 22 seconds had elapsed when Macheda seized on a careless pass across the MLS defence from the right-back, Kevin Alston, and beat the exposed goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, with a clinical finish into the bottom corner. In the 12th minute the Italian striker doubled United's lead when, from Nani's corner, he was left unmarked on the six-yard line and sent a glancing header beyond the All-Stars keeper.

With Darren Fletcher dominant in central midfield – and striking the crossbar after a neat one-two with Tom Cleverley – United produced a fluid, intelligent display although, and without wishing to introduce a killjoy to proceedings, it should be noted the All-Stars starting line-up was cobbled together from eight different clubs. Several players, including the Landon Donovan, the USA captain who was on the bench, had played in the Concacaf Champions League only 24 hours earlier.

MLS substitute Brian Ching reduced the arrears in the 63rd minute when he lost Rafael easily at the near post and headed David Ferreira's free-kick past Edwin Van der Sar. United responded with two exquisite goals.

After a foul on the lively Hernández, afforded a rapturous reception when introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute, Darren Gibson swept a glorious free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards. Cleverley then latched on to Fletcher's flick into the penalty area, lifted the ball over the defender Wilman Conde with his left foot and volleyed past Nick Rimando in the MLS goal with his right.

The 70,728 crowd, a record for a "soccer" fixture at the Reliant Stadium and the fourth highest for an All-Stars game, got the moment the majority craved seven minutes from time when Hernández marked his debut with a fine finish. Peeling off the shoulder of the last defender, the Mexico striker read Fletcher's ball over the top superbly and, with Rimando advancing, lofted his finish over the goalkeeper. The MLS substitute Dwayne De Rosario reduced the arrears in the 90th minute.

Manchester United (4-1-4-1): Van der Sar; Rafael, Brown, J Evans, Fábio (Scholes, 72); O'Shea; Obertan (Cleverley, 23), Fletcher, Giggs (Gibson, 52), Nani (Hernández, 62); Macheda (Welbeck, 62).

MLS All-Stars (4-1-4-1): Ricketts (Rimando, ht); Alston (De Rosario, ht), Olave (Gonzalez, ht), Marshall (Conde, 63), Pearce (Donovan, 74); Joseph (Davis, 74); Le Toux (Convey, ht), Morales (Moreno, 63), Schelotto (Ferreira, ht), Pappa (Larentowicz, ht); Angel (Ching, ht).