Man Utd boss Ferguson admits never finding Keane, Beckham replacements

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he's yet to adequately replace his former midfield.

The United manager admits he no longer has the players - Wayne Rooney apart - who can match the consistent high level performances of Roy Keane and David Beckham in their prime.

But he says the pace of the modern game has also contributed to the chopping and changing in his line-ups.

"A decade ago, Keane, Beckham and Giggs were young, fresh and determined and could run all day," he said. "They were blessed with these things and we don't have those type of players now.

"The pace of our games is incredible so you cannot play the same players all the time. Every United game is harder than anyone else's. Everyone lifts their game for us. There are two to three who'd always expect to play in a big game, and Darren is one of them.

"He's a big-game player and it took a long time for the public and the Press to acknowledge that."