The signs are certainly good, but the problem United face, as we have done in the past with many talented youngsters, is they become impatient, and then start looking somewhere else. Pique is a prime example.
United need Macheda in the team now. OK it may not work straight away, but it will give him the motivation, and it allows United the time to nurture a relationship with Rooney whereby every week you expect the same two strikers on the pitch. Thats what we are sadly missing.
Personally I would be playing Macheda every game now. Offload Owen. keep Berbatov as a third striker, and then work on the Rooney - Macheda partnership, so that in 18 months time they are a fully fledged coherent unit.
The way its going, he'll be sold within 2 years because no young lad of that age will agree to play maybe 1-2 games a month. Not when they are good enough to warrant first team football in almost any other club in the country.