SLIGHTLY PREMATURE

Twelve trophies and 293 games to go but Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have begun to make early in-roads into becoming the Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister of the 21st Century for United.

The Anglo-Serbian alliance that took £37m of Old Trafford's cash to put together has, after 17 matches as a starting pair, begun to be compared with Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary rearguard partnership from 1989-96.

The duo became established as one of the club's most endearing and commanding combos ever. Rare injuries were the only occasions when Fergie's team sheet failed to have their names inked on it.

In the campaign during which United ended 26 years of title hurt in 1992-93, they were both ever-presents playing 50 games apiece in all competitions. They averaged 44 matches each a term during that seven season tie-up.

The Ferdinand-Vidic ticket is still very much in its infancy but when the fearsome Serb thundered in his second goal of the season against Portsmouth last Saturday, a hopeful light clicked on in the minds of many veteran Reds watchers that maybe finally Sir Alex had unearthed a mean defensive union.

Vidic is the run-through-brick-wall clone of Bruce while Ferdinand is the cultured pacy sidekick duplicate of Pallister.

Other contenders for Ferguson's central combination at the back have had to be content with bit parts with Rio and Nemanja seemingly now firmly entrenched as his first choice.

With nine clean sheets from the 17 starts they have made together, Ferdinand and Vidic are building up a mean reputation.