Premiership: Ferguson keen to keep 'remarkable' Sheringham

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Teddy Sheringham has still got a few years left in him.

And he wants to get at least another season out of the England striker.

Sheringham, 34, will begin contract negotiations with Manchester United at the start of next month.

The former Tottenham striker is looking for a new two-year deal at Old Trafford.

Recalled to the England squad on Friday by new coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Sheringham has been a revelation for the champions in what was thought to be his swansong season.

But Ferguson said: "To achieve the levels he has this season is quite remarkable. At 34 my intention was, as with the previous year with Teddy, to use him sparingly so I could get the best out of him.

"I have four strikers of good quality and I know I can change them around and keep their freshness and get the results you need.

"In Teddy's case he has been quite astonishing in the consistency he has shown plus the fact that his goals have been quite amazing.

"Teddy is one of those rare birds - he has kept his fitness levels fantastically well and always looked after himself.

"He trains hard and he's never needed speed to make him the player he is so he's always been economic with his running ability.

"So, therefore, I think he could play for a few years yet. But obviously we at Manchester United want to get the best years in the coming ones."

The veteran forward's performances have put him, along with team-mates Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane, in the running for the Footballer of the Year award.

Ferguson, however, has questioned the merits of the gong and said: "It's difficult to assess the importance of that.

"When it comes to Footballer of the Year I never feel that there is ever any great consistency about how they pick these things.

"If you go back two years ago Manchester United won the treble and didn't even have a player who was in the top three, nor at the Players' Union award. None of our players were involved in that either."