Dimitar Berbatov: 50 And Not Out - Hopefully

With just a few days before the January transfer windows open, Dimitar Berbatov made a bold statement to the fans with his very classy goal against Fulham, showing what he can still bring to Manchester United.

Berbatov coolly clips the ball in with a flick

Sporting new stylish hair cut, the Bulgarian made his first substitute appearance, after being out a couple of weeks with a foot injury, and it would be very foolish if Sir Alex Ferguson decided to let him go to Paris Saint-Germain - or any other club for that matter.

Over the next five months, United need to make up at least two points and a massive 10 goal difference if they are to overtake Manchester City in the Premier League standings - and Berbatov can aid that cause tremendously.

Yes, right now both Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez are both in front of him to partner Wayne Rooney in the Reds' attack, but there are going to be games during that stretch when Berba's style will be best suited. Many people are quick to forget that the United No. 9 is the reigning Premier League Golden Boot winner and without his contributions, the club simply doesn't have their 19th title.

Berba's cheeky goal will give him the confidence to kick on, and it will also give a nudge to Ferguson of what he has waiting patiently in the wings. He has never spoken out of term, and there's no question that his confidence has dipped, but class always shows through in the end - and he has oodles of it.

Of his six Premier League appearances this season, five of them have come from the substitutes' bench, which for a player of his style isn't easy. Let's face it, he's no Hernandez, so it normally takes him a while to get his body going and mind into the match. Once he gets a few starts under his belt, not in a knockout competition with a bunch of youngsters, the fans will start seeing the best of him.

The soon-to-be 31 year-old has six months remaining on his contract, but the club holds an option to extend for another season, which Sir Alex said he will probably invoke. United fans often make note of the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final would have been different if Darren Fletcher wasn't unduly suspended, but the same can be - and has been - said if Berbatov was included in last year's final.

What is most appreciated about Berbatov is his professionalism over the last 12 months. As, we have seen, modern-day footballers don't have any team ethics or morals - but he does! Being unfairly dropped after carrying the goal scoring burden in the first half of the 2010/11 season, Berba has kept his priorities straight which is making sure that the team is successful, not just him. A lot of people think that his body language gives off a sense of laziness, but he's most certainly not lazy. On top his unbelievable skill and control of the ball and, because of his height, he defends as well as anybody on set-pieces.

Dimitar Berbatov still has a lot to offer Manchester United, and if someone doesn't see that, then they don't appreciate the game of football as it should be played.