Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for two-goal Cristiano Ronaldo after victory over West Ham yesterday.

Ferguson had nothing but praise for Ronaldo, whose first-half double took him to 40 for the season and left him just one adrift of Alan Shearer's 31-goal Premier League record.

"How many players could score that many?" reflected the United boss.

"He is improving all the time. He always wants the ball, which takes a lot of courage, and don't forget, while he played up front today, he has spent 90% of the season on the wing."