Sir Alex Ferguson has heaped praise upon oft injured defender Wes Brown ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth this Saturday. Ferguson, who has used Brown as cover for the injured Rio Ferdinand in recent weeks, showered the 30 year old defender with praise ahead of the clash with Portsmouth;
“Wes and Nemanja have been absolutely fantastic in recent
games and it just reminds you that Wes, when he is fit, is the best natural
defender in the country.
“Wes
and Nemanja are natural defenders and they have the experience of course. But
Wes is as good as any of them and most people recognise that.
“You
have to pay tribute to the lad because he keeps coming back from the injuries
that he’s had in his career.
“He’s
had two cruciates, a broken ankle and other injuries. Last season, he had a
very staggered season in terms of his injuries. But the season before that, he
was our most consistent defender on the way to winning the European Cup in
Moscow.”
Brown’s importance to United could become even
greater over the next few months. With reports that Nemanja Vidic is unsettled
at Old Trafford, due to his family being unable to settle in England and
rumours that Doctors have informed Sir Alex that defender Rio Ferdinand’s back
problem is likely to chronically reoccur throughout the remainder of his
career, United look particularly short of cover at the back and although the
impressive Johnny Evans has come through the ranks to bolster numbers, it is
Brown who Ferguson would like to rely on most, especially in the key games.
Not that Ferguson should require a great deal
from Brown and Vidic on Saturday against Portsmouth. Even the appointment of
former Chelsea manager Avram Grant to replace the sacked Paul Hart, may not be
enough to turn around the fortunes of the cash strapped south coast club. Last
season a single Darren Ferguson strike was enough to give United victory at
Fratton Park and it seems likely that with Chelsea now five points ahead, Sir
Alex would take that ahead of this key game.
Fratton Park has been a traditionally tough place
for United to win. Pompey have won three and drawn one of the meetings between
the two at Fratton Park, although those victories have come with the team in a
much stronger team at present and despite that poor run of results, United will
start strong favorites to win the game.
Sir Alex is expected to return to his strongest
team for the trip after the midweek defeat to Besiktas when he fielded a
largely young and inexperienced side. Dimitar Berbatov should return to the
attack from injury in place of Michael Owen, while Anderson should earn a
recall to the side.
Portsmouth’s probable team (4-4-2) : James,
Ben-Haim, Wilson, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Brown, O’Hara, Mullins, Boateng,
Dindane, Piquionne
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