EDWIN GETS EXTENSION

The Mirror reports that United have offered Edwin van der Sar a year long extension to hi s contract.

Ferguson said: "Our approach with players in their 30s is to give them one-year contracts that's what we did with Denis Irwin.

"He signed one-year deals before he eventually left when he was 36. There's nothing wrong with that and we've given Edwin another one-year contract.

"Edwin's fit, he's lean, he's hungry and he can play for another two years, easy.

"He's probably got a new lease of life since coming to United," said Ferguson. "He did well at Fulham, having been at Juventus previously. But coming to us has given him an extra spur that a lot of goalkeepers get at that age.

"He's done really well for us and he's good in the dressing room, too.

"He's not a terribly demonstrative person - he's not like Schmeichel for instance. But what he says has got an authority about it because he's been there and that experience and personality help."