Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has nominated Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea as players he expects to have a bigger influence in the coming season.

Both Fletcher and O'Shea have been linked with moves away in the last six months, but ahead of this weekend's season kickoff, Ferguson says they're both high in his plans.

"What you want to see in a team now, after having won the league, is more authority, more consistency and continuity of their game," Ferguson told reporters this morning.

"We expect the young players to improve a lot, like Rooney and Ronaldo. They will get better. There's no doubt in my mind.

He added: "We also expect a great deal more authority from players like Fletcher, O'Shea, Vidic and Evra.

"I think we have to see improvement there, and I think we have the right people to call on in terms of experience in the likes of Neville, Giggs and Scholes, Ferdinand and Van der Sar."