Irwin: Man Utd's experience will show

Former Manchester United defender Denis Irwin is hopeful the Red Devils’ vast experience can be the major influence in the destination of this season’s Barclays Premier League title.

Irwin concedes current leaders Manchester City have been the best side so far this term.

However the 46-year-old feels United have the extra edge of knowing what it takes to come out on top.

“That experience counts an awful lot,” said the former Republic of Ireland star. “Sometimes you can drop points and feel that is it. But that point could win you the championship. You can’t buy that experience.

“The manager and coaching staff have been down the road many times. There are plenty of players who have been around for a long time. It is only through experience that you know what to do. I hope that counts near the end.”

Irwin was speaking at the launch of the 2012 Big Red Bike Ride, a 592-mile charity trek around Ireland organised by the Manchester United Foundation.

Also riding will be Clayton Blackmore, Brian McClair and David May, who intends to complete the entire length of a trip which begins in Irwin’s hometown of Cork on June 9 and concludes in Dublin seven days later.

“It is a great opportunity to see the best part of Ireland and raise some money,” Irwin said.

“Obviously, I know the country very well. But I have never done it on a bike and I think I will have to do a little bit of training.”

After Paul Scholes’ comeback, Irwin has been fending off cheeky suggestions he might be tempted to pull on the boots once more.

However, he insisted he is “far too old for that” and instead will keep a watching brief on a fascinating battle that will take another twist this weekend when United tackle Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium less than half an hour after Manchester City have finished their encounter with Tottenham.

“It is a big weekend, although there is still an awful lot of the season to go and teams will drop points,” said Irwin.

“At this stage of the season, you get teams who are fighting relegation, who are desperate, who clam up and the games all seems to tighten up an awful lot.

“It is how each individual team reacts to that. It is going to be a battle.

“Spurs have done unbelievably well to get into the position they are. But City are our main rivals.I don’t think you can argue that they have been the better team over the first half of the season.”