Fab Four is music to Berbatov's ears

But Berbatov accepts he still has a bit to do to win their universal acceptance as a member of United’s new-look ‘Fab Four’.

The departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez mean there is extra pressure on Berbatov and Wayne Rooney to score more goals in the coming season, along with new signing Michael Owen and teenager Federico Macheda.

Berbatov hit only 14 goals in all competitions last season – nine of them in the Premier League – and that was his lowest tally since coming to England.

He took pride in his number of assists but accepts that, as far as United fans go, the jury is still out and he needs more goals to justify the club-record fee of £30.75million Sir Alex Ferguson paid to buy him from Tottenham last September.

Last year’s pre-season was disrupted by his drawn-out and rancorous transfer, but he hopes a full and proper preparation this time will help him hit the ground running.

“I know I can do better than I did last season,” he said. “I can do more. That’s why I’m happy to be here on the club’s pre-season tour.

“It’s always beneficial to start well and have a good pre-season and I feel I’m training well at the moment. I’m here to score goals and I hope to score more and more for United this season.

“This is my first pre-season with the team and I’ve never been on a tour like this with my previous clubs. It is crazy, it is like being one of The Beatles. Everybody’s screaming and chanting Manchester United names.

“ It doesn’t matter where we go, we are always welcomed like we’re the biggest club in the world.”

Around 50,000 fans watched United train in Kuala Lumpur, while 125,000 saw their two games there against Malaysian XIs.

The fervour will step up another notch following their arrival yesterday here in the South Korean capital.

Thousands mobbed them at Incheon airport and the 64,000 tickets for tomorrow’s game against FC Seoul sold out in only 10 hours when they went on sale in May, with followers excited even further by the prospect of seeing local hero Park Ji-Sung in a United shirt – he missed the 2007 game because of a knee injury.

Ferguson believes that the rapid emergence ofItalian Macheda, coupled with the arrival of Owen, is like having two new strikers rather than one.

“We have big hopes for young Macheda,” said Ferguson.

“That is one of the main reasons why we didn’t move for someone else in the market. We have great faith in the boy. He is strong, aggressive and a terrific finisher. He has many tremendous assets and is very much among my pool of strikers for the season ahead, along with Dimitar, Wayne and Michael .

“He doesn’t have the lightning reactions of Ronaldo, but he is quick around the box and he has an eye for goal, as we saw last season. He was way in front of everyone else with his finishing in training the other day – and I mean everyone. It was magnificent to see.

“It is hard to believe he is still only 17. We probably need to check his birth certificate because I reckon he is at least 28.”

Macheda, who scored in Monday’s second tour game, is hoping to learn from Owen, 12 years his senior.

“I have to thank Sir Alex because without his faith I would not have had the chance to play in the first team,” he said.

“I know I have to continue to work hard to make sure he gives me more chances. It is very important for me to learn from Michael because he is one of the best strikers around. If I can work with him, I can get better day after day.”

Owen has got off to a flier with two goals in two games and says the history of United’s legendary No7 shirt will not weigh heavily on his shoulders.

He said: “I was quite shocked when the manager asked me to wear it. You only have to look at the last half-a-dozen people to have worn that number. They are fantastic players and obviously I will try to do my best to continue that tradition by scoring goals and doing the shirt proud.” FOOTBALL: UNITED IN THE FAR EAST ‘I know I can do better than last season’