Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed rising star Giuseppe Rossi as the one of the best finishers he has ever seen.

It is 18 months since Alex Ferguson plucked Rossi from Parma's academy, much to the disappointment of the Italians who sensed the American-born forward could develop into an outstanding player.

Those initial signs have proved correct, with Rossi quickly emerging as the most lethal goalscorer to come through United's ranks since Paul Scholes a decade ago.

The 18-year-old has continued his prolific reserve-team form through to senior level - and after netting on his Premiership debut at Sunderland in October, he scored twice in a match for the first time in last night's FA Cup hammering of non-league Burton.

"Giuseppe is a great talent and an exceptional finisher, one of the best I have ever seen," said Solskjaer.

"He has a football brain and he thinks about scoring goals before he gets the ball. His movement is good; he is quick and strong; his work-rate is tremendous, and mentally he is class. He is also humble enough to know he still needs more experience."

Rossi is now United's fifth-highest scorer this season, having taken his tally to four from just 10 first-team appearances. He has found the net more often than Scholes and Ryan Giggs - and there is the prospect of more to come later in the season.

Not only is he scoring goals, he is creating them too - setting up both Kieran Richardson and Giggs last night as well as providing Louis Saha with a couple of gilt-edged chances the Frenchman somehow managed to blow.

"Providing an ‘assist' is as good as scoring a goal," said Rossi.  "I always look to get on the ball and try to make something happen when I get it.

"Every young player wants to play in front of a big crowd at Old Trafford, and I just want to impress the management enough to keep these kind of experiences going There are so many great players here, but I feel I am learning a lot just by training with them. I hope that will help me."

For all his promise, Rossi is unlikely to keep his place for Sunday's crunch encounter with Liverpool - and Solskjaer is almost certain to stand down too as Wayne Rooney is available again after suspension, while Ruud van Nistelrooy returns after spending last night on the bench.