Injured Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has hailed the influence of Rio Ferdinand on their title push.

Ferdinand has returned to his best in the second-half of the season.

"At the beginning of the season there were a lot of people questioning Rio, asking whether he could do what he did in the past, can he play, is he finished?" Vidic said.

"This was nonsense. Rio has hunger and now he has proved people they are wrong.

"He is a very important player, not just this year but over the past years and he has done very well over the last few months."