Teddy Sheringham will have the unenviable task of filling Eric Cantona's boots, but Alex Ferguson is convinced he is the man to do that job. There are centre forwards who thrill the crowds - and then there are centre forwards who please their striking partners - Teddy Sheringham falls into the second category.

        Play him alongside any other forward and nine times out of ten the end result will be greater than the sum parts.  Sheringham, born in Walthamstow, started his career with Millwall as an apprentice and worked his way through the club junior sides before making his first team debut in January 1984 against Bournemouth.  He had a spell out on loan at Aldershot but returned to The Den to become a fixture in the side during the 1986-87 season when he scored 18 goals.  His partner in crime at Millwall was Tony Cascarino and in the 1987-88 season this pairing scored 42 goals as Millwall reached the First Division for the first time ever.

        Millwall had a good first season but were relegated the next year however back in Division Two Sheringham, again proved he was a potent striker with 33 League goals, 38 in all games - a tally which equalled the club record set by Richard Parker in 1926-27 and Peter Buridge in 1960-61.  Nottingham Forest moved in, paying £2m for his services but although he scored goals for the club he never really settled and 13 months later was back in London - moving to Tottenham for £2,100,000.  The goals started to flow again and by the end of the 1992-93 Sheringham had rattled in 29 to become the Carling Premiership's "Golden Boot" winner.

        Goals are, of course, his lifeblood but his partnership with Jurgen Klinsmann flourished because of his unselfish play and his ability to hold the ball up and find his partner.  The same happened in the 1995-96 season - his understanding with Chris Armstrong - the fresh face brought in from Crystal Palace to replace Klinsmann - though taking time to gel, finaly paying dividends.  And put Sheringham in an England shirt and he will do the business again.

        At international level he has formed a good understanding with Alan Shearer, as shown during Euro 96, the Blackburn striker and though the game demands a degree of selfishness to succeed, Sheringham is a man who knows how to balance the scales - to do what is best for him and for his team.