Skipper in waiting

Rio Ferdinand will be handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis once United's most experienced campaigners have called time on their Old Trafford careers.

Since joining the club in the summer of 2002, the England international has not only developed into one of the Reds' most important and consistent performers, he has become a natural leader as well.

He has already skippered the Reds on a number of occasions over the last few seasons, including last season's Champions League final, in the absence of club captain Gary Neville and United's record appearance holder Ryan Giggs. And Sir Alex confirmed the 30-year-old will become the full-time bearer of the armband in the coming years.

"When players first come to the club you don't know enough about them [to see whether they're captain material], it's only in the last few years that I've seen that with Rio," explained the United boss.

"He had a casualness about him when he first joined as a young lad which sometimes frustrated you, but he's matured and has a great strength of character.

"He's a good leader now and I think he will be our captain when Neville and Giggs hang their boots up."

Despite seeing Ferdinand substituted late on in England's victory over Ukraine with a groin problem in midweek, Sir Alex remains hopeful he will be fit to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

"He didn't train on Friday, but we hope he will on Saturday," revealed the boss. "He's got a good chance for Sunday, although if he does play he may be struggling by Tuesday. However, the important thing is to get him ready for Sunday."