Fergie backs Bruce ahead of 25th milestone

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) ― Sir Alex Ferguson has leapt to the defense of Sunderland manager Steve Bruce as he prepares to celebrate 25 years at Old Trafford against the Black Cats on Saturday.

Sunderland are four points above the bottom three after just two wins in 10 league games this season.

Bruce’s position at the Stadium of Light has come into question but Ferguson, who marks his 25th year in charge of United on Sunday, has backed his former captain to come through a difficult period.

Bruce, who won a hat-trick of league titles during nine years as a player at United, has been in charge since June 2009.

“Steve’s been under a bit of pressure,” said Ferguson, who starts his landmark weekend five points behind leaders Manchester City.

“But you only need to lose two games these days and you’re under pressure. But I’ve got no doubts that Steve will be okay.”

Ferguson, who turns 70 at the end of next month, has labeled his 25 years at United as a fairytale.

Appointed on Nov. 6, 1986, the Scot is regarded as one of the best managers ever after steering United to 12 Premier League titles, two European Cups, five FA Cup successes and four League Cups.

There has been much speculation about when Ferguson will step down, but he has given no indication that he intends to retire anytime soon.

“I’ll continue for as long as I feel healthy enough to do the job,” said the United manager, who insisted his success was down to the ‘fantastic’ players who have served under him.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have some of the best players in the game,” said Ferguson.

“When I look back at these players I say to myself ‘how fortunate I am.’ It’s quite incredible. You look at the list of players when I came at the very start ― Bryan Robson, Norman Whiteside.

“Then Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona ... God, what a collection of players.

“They were fantastic players. And it’s hard to think I was in control of all those players for so long.

“The present era of players, they have different personalities and different cultures. It’s been a really fantastic spell for me.

“It’s something you don’t think is going to happen, it’s a bit of a fairytale to last so long.

“It’s such a varied time in management. Things change as the years go on. It’s a different way of managing than it was seven or eight years ago. It’s changed.”

Nemanja Vidic is set to return to the defense after suspension but Michael Owen is definitely out after undergoing a scan on a calf injury he picked up in Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Otelul Galati.

Keiren Westwood, a summer arrival from Coventry City, makes his first Premier League start in goal in place of Simon Mignolet for Sunderland.

Mignolet has been ruled out until January after suffering a broken nose and eye socket in the draw with Aston Villa.

John O’Shea, who moved to the Stadium of Light from the Premier League Champions in July, is also out following a recurrence of a hamstring problem that is likely to see the 30-year-old defender miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia later this month.

David Vaughan, the Wales midfielder, is also a doubt with a groin problem.