Former Manchester United defender Paul McGrath believes the Premier League Champions should offer Rio Ferdinand a new contract. "I would go along with giving him a new contract. Watching some of his performances, he's as cool as he's ever been," McGrath told BBC Red Wednesday.

"When he plays he makes it look so simple you think it's over-confidence, but it's just he's that good.

"I would love to see him getting another contract because I think it's in his blood that he's got that winning mentality.

"He loves the club, you can see that in the way he plays, he doesn't like getting beat and he's screaming at people who make mistakes; those people are winners in football and Rio is one of them."

Former Republic of Ireland centre-back McGrath was troubled by knee problems throughout his career and knows better than most what 34 year old Ferdinand has to do to prepare for games.

"I did get a lot of time off at Aston Villa when I didn't train with the team, I did bicycle exercises so I wasn't involved so much with actual team until the Saturday," he added.

"The other lads accepted that, they didn't call you out and I think that is what Rio needs.

"He knows his own body, he knows what he can and can't do and the great thing is that when he walks on the pitch on a Saturday you are getting the performances you are at the moment."