Fergie: Harry has crucial experience

ALEX FERGUSON is convinced old mate Harry Redknapp has proved there is no substitute for experience in the management game.

After guiding Portsmouth to safety from an almost impossible position two seasons ago, Redknapp had the south coast outfit on the fringes of a UEFA Cup spot for much of last term.

Pompey’s form eventually dipped but a ninth-place finish represented their best effort since they sealed back-to-back titles 57 years ago.

Redknapp’s reward was to be provided with enough cash to sign outstanding Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari, top-class defender Sylvain Distin, England striker David Nugent, plus fellow forward John Utaka, who opened his account in Saturday’s draw at Derby.

The squad strengthening exercise should allow Pompey to punch their weight in the top half of the Premier League once more this term, with Ferguson feeling Redknapp is landing a blow for veteran bosses everywhere.

“There was a period where a lot of club chairmen got enamoured by top players and made them managers at Premier League level virtually the very next day,” said Ferguson.

“Now, there seems to be a reliance on older managers such as Harry, Steve Coppell and Sam Allardyce.”

Two points behind all their major championship rivals already, the Red Devils cannot afford to slip up at Fratton Park tonight if they are not to find themselves playing an unwanted game of catch-up.

Their task is just made more difficult by the absence of Wayne Rooney, sidelined for two months by the fractured foot he sustained in a collision with Reading’s Michael Duberry at the weekend.

Carlos Tevez will replace Rooney, although for United’s sake, it is to be hoped the Argentina star does not make the same hesitant start to his United career as he did at West Ham.

Nevertheless, with Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yet to reach full fitness following long-term injury, Tevez will shoulder the attacking burden with Cristiano Ronaldo.