Rio Ferdinand has hailed the form of Manchester United teammate Wes Brown this season.

He said: "Wes has been doing it all season and you expect big performances from him. Gary Neville is fit now but he's still managed to keep his place - and that speaks volumes for the way Wes has been playing.

"The manager has great confidence in him, he's a fantastic professional and I always feel comfortable playing alongside him.

"Nemanja Vidic has been a top player for us over the last two years, and for him to be out of such important games might have been a problem. But it's not when someone like Wes can step in so seamlessly. He's been great."