Fergie: Old guard can go on for years

by Adam Marshall , 20 February 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes can all extend their contracts still further at Manchester United.

The veteran trio are signing one-year extensions at Old Trafford but Ferguson has challenged them to continue producing their vintage form to trigger another 12 months in a year's time.

Speaking ahead of Setanta's live game with Blackburn Rovers, the United boss has paid tribute to his old guard.

"In the case of Neville, he never had the talent of Giggs and Scholes but he had the determination to make sure he was always going to be in the Manchester United team," explained Ferguson.

"In every training session, he is trying to prove himself. He's come back after a year and half and we did have a fear, a slight concern, well even more than that, a great concern that he was not going to come back.

"At that age, after a year and a half, it's not easy to come back and it's a fantastic demonstration by Gary that he's never going to give in.

"He's an amazing man.

"He's signed for another year as we've done with Paul and Ryan so we'll see what happens next year. I'm certain if they keep performing at the same level they will be here for another year. No question of that."

Ferguson is pleased to have so many options in the centre of the park as his team challenge for trophies on all fronts.

"We have more options there than anywhere else," he declared.

"Anderson has started training again with the first team and could be ready for the League Cup final next Sunday.

"Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher. Young Darron Gibson is coming on leaps and bounds and it now gives me headaches but more options mean I can tailor Scholes and Giggs's roles in games."

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Arsenal
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Aston Villa
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Birmingham
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Blackburn
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Bolton
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Burnley
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Chelsea
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Everton
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Fulham
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Hull
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Liverpool
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Man City
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Man Utd
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Portsmouth
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Stoke
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Sunderland
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Tottenham
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West Ham
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Wigan
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Wolverhampton
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