“His pre-season form was terrific and he’s a top player”

Sir Alex Ferguson has classed Anderson as ‘unlucky’ as the Brazilian midfielder has struggled to see playing time this season.

Anderson has made just 3 appearances this season, with his start against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup being his most recent. Having stood out in that game and getting onto the scoresheet, he can count himself as unlucky to have played no part in United’s 3-2 defeat against Spurs on Saturday.

But Sir Alex acknowledges Anderson’s ability and states it is the form of others that is preventing the 24 year old from making it onto the pitch, rather than anything else:

“Anderson is a difficult one to leave out but I don’t think there’s been anything wrong with the form of Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick, which makes it difficult to involve other central midfielders when there’s always a desire to play with two wide players.

“Anderson has done nothing wrong. His pre-season form was  terrific and he’s a top player, but I still think that Scholes is a great player.

“With Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Nick Powell, it gives me a lot of different options.”