September 29, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson has tipped Wayne Rooney to gatecrash the elite trio currently monopolising world football.

Rooney is set to make his 50th European appearance when Manchester United entertain German champions Wolfsburg.

He started his Champions League career with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Although there have been moments Rooney has cause to regret, not least his red card for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen in Villarreal, and there were plenty of occasions when he was upstaged by former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, at no point has the 23-year-old given Ferguson any other belief than he is destined for the top.

The United boss feels Rooney has some work to do before he can be put into the same bracket as Kaka and Ronaldo, who were crowned world player of the year in the last two seasons, and Lionel Messi, who is set to receive the honour this autumn.

But he has no doubts the Merseysider will get there eventually.

"Wayne could easily get to that level," said Ferguson.

"It was a pretty remarkable feat to get that hat-trick and his progress has never disappointed us at any point since.

"When we signed him as a kid, we thought he would become a really top player. Without question he is going in that direction.

"He is blessed with some ingredients only great footballers have.

"He has a great determination and hunger to win every match and every training session. That will never change.

Rooney determination

"Sometimes there is criticism about the amounts footballers get paid. But when you see the effort he puts in, he is worth every penny.

"He plays as if he means it. It is a wonderful thing to have."

Jonny Evans was able to verify that assessment of Rooney's competitive spirit. Less sure is the Northern Ireland international about his team-mate's ability to fill a central defensive role.

"Wayne is a nightmare," he said.

"He is always complaining and he always wants to win.

"His form has been great this season. He is playing through the middle now and is probably in his most favourite position.

"I don't think he can play centre-half though. All the lads try different positions. Berbatov did it yesterday. He was awful."

Unwittingly, Evans got both himself and his girlfriend drawn into a debate Fabio Capello triggered about Rooney a couple of weeks ago.

The England coach has claimed marriage has been a benefit to Rooney, something that would be manna from heaven for Ferguson, who has always espoused the settling effects having a wife can have.

Currently single Evans - and his girlfriend, who was part of the press conference having just begun a week's work placement with host broadcaster ITV - listened intently, until the focus changed and had the young defender squirming.

Ferguson view

"I don't want to talk about it," he said.

"My girlfriend is sat there in the middle of you all."

Ferguson though was warming to his theme.

"Marriage helps footballers," said the Scot.

"It is good for the stability of a footballer to get married. They settle down. You know where they are."

And then, isolating his target: "Get him tied down dear. Rings are cheap now."

Evans was glad when the subject changed, with Ferguson confirming Park Ji-sung had been ruled out after picking up a virus.

Not that the South Korean's absence should cause United much trouble.

Wolfsburg are expected to be the Reds' main challengers for group supremacy, with strikers Grafite and Edin Dzeko a particular threat given the Germans' free-scoring ways.

Any foe from the Bundesliga needs to be respected. But in the end, Ferguson expects United to form part of another strong English challenge for a tournament they have dominated for the last three years.

"Real Madrid's signings in the summer have created a bit of a flutter in Spain and they are getting a bit excited over there again," he said.

"But I see no reason why the English clubs will not be there again."

September 29, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson has confirmed the time will soon come when Jonny Evans will force his way into the Manchester United line-up by right.

Currently Evans is being used as a very able deputy for Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

But with Vidic's long-term future still open to question amid rumours his wife is not happy in England and Ferdinand's long-standing back injury keeping him on the sidelines more than he would wish, Evans has had plenty of chances to shine.

Yet Ferguson has admitted there have been times when his team selection has not been fair on the young Northern Ireland defender. And he acknowledged it will not be long before Evans is the commanding presence at the heart of United's back four.

"Sometimes I don't know whether I am doing the right thing leaving Jonny out because his performance level has been so high," said Ferguson.

"At times I have been unfair to him.

"But he is still young. He has a great future here and time will come when I have to put him in.

"The great thing about footballers and young players in particular is that one summer they come back and they are a different player.

Evans performance

"They have a different physique and they tell you by their performance that it is time for them to go into the team.

"It has happened countless times at this club and I would think it is a great worry for any experienced player that one of their own is going to take their place."

It was not quite a warning for Vidic and Rio but it is a clear statement that, at 22, Ferguson views Evans as a man for the future.

There was certainly no worries last term when Evans had to step in.

The Belfast-born star made 31 appearances in total last term, including the Carling Cup final, and he was also introduced as a substitute during the Club World Cup final in Japan after Vidic had been sent off.

And the more he was called upon, the more comfortable he felt.

"I did improve last season," he said.

"You do have your ups and downs during the season but I got more confident in my own ability as the season went on.

"I was loving every game because you just want to be involved."