Fergie backs revitalised Reds to drive on

ALEX FERGUSON believes Manchester United are a different proposition heading into the second half of the season as injuries start to ease.

United welcomed back a trio of key defenders in Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Rafael da Silva at Hull on Sunday and immediately looked stronger than the side humbled by Fulham last week.

The champions still needed to battle hard to shake off a determined Hull but their eventual 3-1 win left them well placed behind leaders Chelsea midway through their Barclays Premier League campaign.