Speaking after confirming that Larsson, 35, would be coming to Old Trafford in January on a ten-week loan deal, Ferguson said: "I've always admired him and there was a period when we made some moves for him at Celtic but the manager persuaded him to stay there at the time.

"He is a great player. It is a terrific bit of business for us."

Ferguson has secured the services of Larsson as cover for first-choice strikers Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha and has no doubt about the Swede's quality.

"We are bringing someone in who can change games," Ferguson said. "Number one he is a goalscorer and can play anywhere on the front line.

"I have seen him play many times, wide right, wide left and through the middle. He is an intelligent player, he has had a great career with 88 caps with Sweden and his goalscoring record is excellent."

Larsson will join the Premiership leaders in January for ten weeks and will be free to play in United's Champions League campaign, should Ferguson's side qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

With back-up strikers Alan Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both yet to recover full fitness, Ferguson's forward options are limited and he is aware that an injury to Rooney or Saha would hit his squad hard as they gun for silverware on four fronts.

Despite Larsson's advancing years, Ferguson is convinced the Swede still has the ability to play at the highest level.

"When you think back to the Champions League final against Arsenal this year, I think he won the game for Barcelona when he came on.

"He changed that game around for them, so we are very pleased. We have agreed a deal for Henrik to join us until the middle of March because it is the winter period in Sweden.

"He will train with us just before Christmas and then be available to play after the first of January."

Larsson had earlier described the move to Manchester United as an unexpected bonus in the final stages of his career.

"They have been after me before -- after the first or second season with Celtic," he said.

"It feels nice to come and play for such a big club. I probably won't play every match from the start, but for me it feels like a very fun thing to contribute at such a late stage in my career. My family are okay with it."

Larsson added: "I will go over there to play as much as possible -- but I have no idea of how Ferguson wants to use me.

"We will see how much playing time there will be. Am I a back-up? Yes, at the beginning. Then you will see what I can contribute and how things are going."