Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says Sir Alex Ferguson's success at Manchester United was built on English talent.

Keown wrote in the Daily Mail: "The policy of English players clearly paid off for him, even if it was an expensive route at times. He bought the best English players - Ferdinand, Rooney, Ince, Carrick - and has done the same recently with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to add to the latest homegrown talents Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck.

"I think the policy must have been borne out of working with someone as fantastic as Bryan Robson. He wanted to retain that spirit and he was right.

"For the English players under Sir Alex, life didn't get much better. You were winning trophies, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world and playing for your country. Foreign players might not consider it the pinnacle. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, who felt he needed another challenge.

"Ferguson and his core of English players have created a habit of behaviour at the club and it's good news that he is staying on in some capacity. The club needs to keep Ferdinand, Scholes and Ryan Giggs for as long as possible too."