DENIS IRWIN SPEAKS

"I think you saw in the last six months of the season how important Roy still is to United," Irwin told M.E.N Sport.

"When you get to the veteran stage, as soon as you have a couple of indifferent games the critics are on your case. They were on to Roy early last season as well.

"But he responded very well and was very influential after Christmas. When United were struggling and needed to go on a roll, he was magnificent. He didn't miss too many games.

"The media are crying for wholesale changes at Old Trafford because of a season without a trophy and United will have to replace Roy eventually and it won't be easy. But I don't think that time will be next summer.

"He'll be going on for a while yet. He looks as fit as ever. He plays a different position now of course and that helps him. He screens the back four. He can set the tempo up and that suits him.

"When you get into your mid 30s, you always think it is going to be your last year. If he feels his legs are OK, he will continue. He'll be 34 in August and there will come a point when he'll know he can't play at the same standards that he plays now.

"Only he and the manager will probably be aware of that. Then it is time for Roy and the manager to make those decisions. But it may be two or three years down the line yet.

"Roy is rested in some games, but in my view he has been rested too much, especially early in the season.

"Maybe the manager thinks that when the team needs to be firing around Christmas that's when he needs Roy, but as we know now you can't afford to do that.

"Things have changed now. You can't afford to be thinking about coming on strong after Christmas. It has to be from the first kick now or you'll get left behind.

"I think Sir Alex Ferguson's policy on resting Roy will change because of that. But he can cope and it will be good for United."

The Bogman has also started doing his coaching badges after saying he would quit the game after he finished playing.

"I am on the first rung of the coaching ladder and am enjoying it but I only see myself coaching at kids' level," he said.

"It was quite easy at first coping with not playing football. It was good to be off when the kids were off school. But it has become a long year and you get more and more bored.

"It hasn't been as easy to adjust as people might think it is. But you just get on with it.

"It is difficult to prepare for it. It is like falling off the end of a cliff. One second, something is there, and the next it's not. Football is your life for 22 years and then it is just gone.