Neville returns but Fergie admits his days are numbered
With well over 500 Red Devils appearances to his name, plus 85 England caps, it would be folly to write Neville off just yet.
But as his 34th birthday is looming in February, time is not on his side. And the emergence of Rafael this season has presented a genuine threat to what was once regarded as Neville’s automatic place in the United line-up.
Indeed, as Ferguson looks to change his team around ahead of a potentially hazardous Premier League trip to Tottenham on Saturday, Neville is the one who finds himself benefiting from Rafael getting a rest.
“Gary Neville will play,” said Ferguson.
“I felt he was outstanding against Blackburn in the Carling Cup last week and we are doing exactly the right thing by not rushing him back.
“But he knows exactly what happens when a young player like Rafael breaks into the club. When they have such outstanding ability and show such outstanding form there is not a lot you can do.
“At the moment the performances of Rafael have been keeping Gary out.”
Not many United observers saw such spectacular progress coming when Rafael arrived in England last January along with twin brother Fabio and midfielder Rodrigo Possebon. As 17-year-olds, they were brought from Rio with an eye on the future.
The past few months have shown Ferguson how good Rafael actually is.
“There was a cautious note because we could not see him in an actual game as it was too late to get a work permit.
“We finally started him in a pre-season friendly at Peterborough and he took our breath away.”
Neville admitted “I have not been able to stay fit enough, long enough, or produce consistently good enough performances to stay in the team, simple as that.”
Providing United match Villarreal’s result at Celtic, they will advance into the knockout stage as group winners.
“It is always better to be number one,” said Ferguson. “Our experiences of finishing second in these groups has not been good and if we win, we have the home legs second in the last 16.”
Meanwhile Ferguson declared himself baffled by the four-match suspension handed to defender Patrice Evra by the FA last week.
United have yet to receive written confirmation of the ban and £15,000 fine after Evra was ruled guilty of improper conduct after an altercation with a groundsman after United’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in April. If the suspension stands, the French full-back will miss end-of-year league games against Stoke and Middlesbrough and will also be ruled out of the FA Cup third round game against Southampton and the League Cup semi-final first leg with Derby in January.
He said: “It was a shock. Of all the things the FA has done to this club over the years, that was one of the big shocks.
“You can never guess what these people are doing and I couldn’t tell you.”
Ferguson is set to leave Cristiano Ronaldo, who suffered a hip problem in the 1-0 win over Sunderland, on the sidelines tonight. Michael Carrick is ruled out with a minor knock.
But Carlos Tevez may start and Ben Foster is likely to be chosen in goal.
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