Baggies bonus for Ferguson

Kieran Richardson left Old Trafford as a boy last year and came back a man, which is just as well given he will make his first Premiership start for Manchester United at Liverpool tomorrow.

Sir Alex Ferguson will hand the 20-year-old Londoner the onerous task of filling Gabriel Heinze’s left-back berth at Anfield as United look to record a fourth successive win at the home of their great rivals.

It is only nine months since Richardson appeared to be heading nowhere other than the exit door after his inauspicious performance in the FA Cup debacle against Exeter.

The loan move to West Brom which followed was expected to be the first step towards a permanent transfer away from United.

Instead, Richardson’s experiences at the Hawthorns proved to be the making of him.

After playing a starring role in the Baggies’ successful survival fight, the Greenwich-born youngster was then drafted into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad and scored on his debut against the United States.

He won his second cap in the win over Wales earlier this month and has now been entrusted with a key role in the Red Devils’ defence in one of the biggest fixtures of the entire season.

“You have to say the move to West Brom last season has proved to be a real bonus,” said Ferguson.

“He came back to us a man and is showing great maturity now, even though he is only 20.

“He does provide us with a different option as an attacking full-back and I am really pleased with him.”

Despite Ferguson’s enthusiasm, it is a change the United boss no doubt wishes he did not have to make, particularly as his side is already lacking the vast experience of Gary Neville and skipper Roy Keane.

The additional absences of Wes Brown, Quinton Fortune and Louis Saha mean the visitors’ bench will be packed with youngsters, hardly an ideal scenario given the importance of collecting another three points in order to maintain contact with champions Chelsea.

And another fear for United must surround Wayne Rooney.

The brilliant teenager let his fragile temper get the better of him for the second time in seven days on Champions League duty in Villarreal.

Unlike seven days previously, when Rooney reserved the majority of his ire for team-mates, the England striker decided to abuse referee Kim Milton Nielsen and was promptly sent off.

Rooney’s character is certain to be tested to the full by an Anfield crowd eager to goad him into further reaction.

The £27m (€39.9m) former Everton forward had the last laugh in the corresponding fixture 12 months ago when he scored the winner in front of the Kop, and Ferguson is confident Rooney will restrict himself to showing off his immense talent.

“Wayne will put in a performance on Sunday,” said Ferguson.

“All season his performances have been fantastic for us.”

In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s dismissal, Ferguson refused the opportunity to condemn Rooney outright, although it has been reported the Scot launched a particularly fearsome ’hairdryer’ blast once the dressing room door had been closed.

There have been plenty of critics lining up to offer their opinions on Rooney’s latest explosion and although Ferguson is not surprised at the attention, for the United boss at least, the issue is no longer a matter for public debate.

“Wayne is a high-profile player, so I am not surprised at the attention,” he said.

“It happened with George Best, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham. It is the way of the world.

“We have experience of these situations and we will handle it.”