MANCHESTER UNITED'S on-loan striker Henrik Larsson has been told by his Swedish club he can stay at Old Trafford until the end of the season.

Larsson, who scored the opening goal in the 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over Aston Villa - now managed by his former Celtic boss, Martin O'Neill - has joined the Red Devils from Helsingborg on a short-term deal until March.

However, club chairman Sten-Inge Fredin has said the Scandinavians would be willing to allow the former Hoops and Barcelona striker to extend his stay.

"It's up to Henrik. If he wants to stay then we'll open that discussion with United. We will not stand in his way," said Fredin.

Larsson, however, was refusing to consider his future with United having only just made his debut.

"It is all ifs and I am just taking one match at a time at the moment," he said.

Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with his striker's debut goal, which was cancelled out by Milan Baros before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's late winner.