United will not stay unbeaten, says Grant

AVRAM GRANT does not believe Manchester United can make it all the way through the season without defeat — but warned Alex Ferguson’s men have a habit of coming good in the end.

By his own admission, Ferguson believes the Red Devils have yet to play to their full potential, but nevertheless returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League following Saturday’s 7-1 demolition of Blackburn at Old Trafford.

United are unbeaten so far, with seven draws and eight wins from 15 league games, and have yet to concede a goal in Europe.

Grant went head to head with Ferguson in the 2008 Champions League final, when his Chelsea side were beaten on penalties in Moscow as United added European glory to their domestic title.

The Israeli feels while the Red Devils are a class act, to extend the current unbeaten record through to May is perhaps too big an ask.

“It has happened before with Arsenal, but I don’t think it will again,” said Grant.

“What happened with Arsenal was exceptional. I don’t believe there is a team which can last all the season without losing.”

The former Portsmouth boss, however, is in no doubt United will be leading the chase for honours again in 2011.

“When I was at Chelsea, Alex Ferguson described that season as the best season ever — but even then they did not start so well,” Grant said.

“You don’t need to be at your best in the first few months, but at the end of the season.

“Alex is very clever. He does it every year. I can’t remember one season when United started with full power.”

Grant is set to utilise all of his squad tonight, aiming to protect key men like Scott Parker, who has been troubled by a chest infection, against burnout. Midfielder Kieron Dyer could return from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile Wes Brown is eager to make the most of his United opportunities before his advancing years catch up with him.

Now past his 31st birthday and with his present contract due to expire at the end of next season, Brown is not sure how much time he has left at Old Trafford.

However, while he still has a job to do for Ferguson, he will continue to perform it, which will probably involve a Carling Cup outing tonight.

“I am not getting any younger now and every game I do play I just try to enjoy and do my best,” he said.

Brown is a Carling Cup ever-present this season, skippering United to victory over Wolves. Brown is likely to fill the right-back berth at Upton Park, as two of what could be as many as 11 changes to Ferguson’s starting line-up from the seven-goal mauling of Blackburn.

Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling should start. Others set to feature are Javier Hernandez, Bebe, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson.

A change in goal is anticipated too, with Tomasz Kuszczak — who is most under threat from the arrival of Anders Lindegaard — and Ben Amos hoping to replace 40-year-old Dutchman Edwin van der Sar.