Rio Tips Cleverley For Top Career

Rio Ferdinand has endorsed Sir Alex Ferguson's faith in a new wave of first-team players as the new Barclays Premier League season gets underway.

The 32 year-old defender believes a policy of blending the senior core - comprising the likes of himself, Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Ji-sung Park - with a burgeoning young crop will stand the Reds in good stead. For example, Ferdinand has been impressed by Tom Cleverley's pre-season form, not least in last Sunday's comeback win over Manchester City at Wembley.

"Not many people knew about Tom Cleverley before he came on in that game," said Rio. "He was magnificent when he came on. Danny Welbeck was too, and both of them got called into the England squad [for the postponed friendly with Holland].

"There are others too. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Fabio, Rafael, David de Gea, Ben Amos, Anders Lindegaard... I could go on and on about the younger players. Mixed in with the experience we have, it all bodes well for the future."

Cleverley has had a big week. Since starring against City, his new squad number of 23 has been confirmed - with previous occupant Evans moving to number six - and he has celebrated a birthday, his 22nd on Friday.

The media spotlight on Cleverley has also intensified with Sir Alex so far not signing a senior central midfielder to replace Paul Scholes. The United manager has talked about the answer potentially coming from within the club's junior ranks, just as it did in 1995 when Scholes himself stepped up to succeed Paul Ince.

"If he gets near to Paul Scholes, he will have done well," claimed Rio. "But Tom will be his own player. I am sure he would rather be that than titled the new someone else."

Ferdinand and Cleverley have been at United for roughly the same period, with the latter initially coming into the club as a 12 year-old. Rio is therefore well placed to comment on Tom's development.

"Tom has been here a long time and we all remember him from when he first came in as a youngster," reflected Rio. "Everybody knew he had the talent but he was physically very slight. Since then he has grown, he has worked hard and he has matured. He's done his apprenticeship by going out on loan and he's come back as a fantastic young player. He has some great traits. He sees the game clearly and plays the ball forward in a nice way.

"All the things people were worrying about, with his height and his size, have been knocked on the head now. He is showing people his true worth. He did it on loan at Wigan last year and I heard Roberto Martinez speak many times about how good he is. Our manager also speaks highly of Tom and I am sure he will have a fantastic career."

Ferdinand was speaking to the Press Association, BBC Radio Manchester and Key 103.