Birmingham boss Alex McLeish hosts an out-of-sorts Manchester United at St Andrews on Saturday, 11 games unbeaten in a campaign that has exceeded all expectations to date. As a player McLeish achieved great success when under Ferguson's tutelage at Aberdeen, before like many of the veteran Scots' protégés, breaking into management himself.

Like Steve Bruce, Roy Keane and Paul Ince, the Birmingham boss has never beaten his former taskmaster as a manager and he admits it remains a burning ambition.

"The big one for all of us who have played for Sir Alex is to beat him - but you're not allowed," said McLeish.

"I've never done it. We lost 1-0 at Ibrox in the Champions League when I was manager of Rangers and then got thumped 3-0 down the road.

"I've lost two games since I've been here at Birmingham - both 1-0 - so I'm getting closer.

"I do pick up the phone to him sometimes and I get phone-calls from him.

"We all like to think 'I'm his best protégé' or 'I'm his best pal' but he's got millions and they are not only players who've played for him.

"The amount of managers who phone him or are friendly with him is incredible and they revere him."