Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson Pays Tribute To Wes Brown

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken out in praise of versatile defender Wes Brown.

Brown is expected to start alongside Nemanja Vidic in the heart of United's defence at Portsmouth tomorrow as Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are out injured.

Ferguson has every faith in the 30-year-old, who has demonstrated his ability and character time and again to his manager.

"I think most people recognise that [he's] a natural defender, and you've got to also pay tribute to the lad that he keeps coming back from the serious injuries he's had over his career," the Scot told reporters at his Friday press conference.

"He's had two cruciates, a broken ankle, calf injuries… last season he had a very staggered season in terms of interruptions into his consistency.

"But the previous season he was our most consistent defender, in the year when we won the cup [Champions League] in Moscow.

"Now he's fit again and is looking fantastic. He gets better all the time.

"Players always need a run of games to get the consistency in the timing and tempo of their game correct. We're seeing that at the moment, so long may it continue."

And Ferguson still finds it difficult to believe just how old Brown is now, such is his youthful attitude.

"We were doing a summary of our players' ages and contracts the other day and I saw that Wes is 30," he added.

"I keep thinking he's only 22 or 23. He's got such a young approach to life. He's done well the lad, dealing with all the things he's had to deal with and still comes out fighting. He's terrific."