Club and country compete for Brown

ALEX FERGUSON could be on a Euro 2004 collision course with Sven-Goran Eriksson after declaring Wes Brown will need a rest this summer.

Only three weeks ago, much to Ferguson’s annoyance, Brown was being blamed for Manchester United’s demise in the Premiership and the Champions League.

Since then impressive back-to -back performances against Arsenal, coupled with Gareth Southgate’s knee ligament injury, have propelled Brown into the England frame, even though he has suffered a second ruptured cruciate ligament since he won the last of his seven international caps against Australia in February last year.

Eriksson is a known admirer of the 24-year-old Mancunian and took him to the World Cup two years ago despite a similar lack of England exposure.

However Ferguson, whose stormy relationship with Eriksson took another downturn last week after Nicky Butt and Phil Neville played almost all the friendly defeat against Sweden, wants Brown to enjoy a complete break rather than put more pressureon a body that has brokendown with such unfortunate regularity.

“After what Wes has been through I feel he is going to need a break this summer,” said the United boss.

“You forget he has had two cruciate operations and a broken ankle. To come through that has not been easy.

“It’s nice that people are talking about him playing for England because it shows you how far he has come on.

“I have always thought of him as the best natural defender in the country but after what he has been through, he needs a break.”

Whether Brown or Eriksson are of the same opinion will not become evident until the England squad is named on May 17.

It would be a shame if the player was to miss out though and if his recent performances are anything to go by, he would be a big loss to Eriksson as well.

Once again, Brown will be alongside Mikael Silvestre at the heart of a Manchester United defence that will attempt to keep Birmingham at bay in what should be a typical blood and thunder encounter at St Andrews.

Ferguson has added striking duo Louis Saha and Diego Forlan to the squad that secured an FA Cup Final berth for the first time in five seasons at Villa Park last weekend.

However, Ruud van Nistelrooy has failed to recover from the knee injury which kept him sidelined eight days ago and misses out.

The United boss is optimistic that his prolific Dutch striker will be available for Tuesday’s visit of Leicester but for the moment accepts he has few selection options available.

“I can’t freshen things up too much because we only have 18 players,” he said.

“Ruud is running now but the best he can hope for is Tuesday, so we will do our best with what we have.”

After two first-half scares, Arsenal eventually scrambled to the win over Liverpool yesterday that almost certainly ends any chance United had of retaining their Premiership crown, so they must reset their sights on finishing second while also getting some fun back into their game.