Manchester United will tonight combine another emotive tribute to George Best with honouring two of their present-day heroes. As Old Trafford rolls out the red carpet for Best's team-mates from the 1968 European Cup final, Gary Neville will mark his first start in three months by taking the captain's armband for the tie against West Bromwich Albion, a role he is likely to fill on a permanent basis. The club will also announce that they are to offer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a testimonial.
With a minute's silence preceding the match in honour of Best, much of the focus at Old Trafford will be on dewy-eyed reminiscences. Ferguson, however, has one eye on the future too and Neville is entitled to believe he has the credentials for tonight's appointment to be made permanent.
"Gary will definitely be captain and while I've not quite decided yet whether it will be long-term there's absolutely no question that I'm giving great consideration to it," said Ferguson. "Seniority is important at this club and always has been.
"Gary's a loyal man, a one-club man and he's shown terrific dedication to this club over the years."
At 30, Neville is younger than three other possibles: Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Ferguson, however, wants an outfield player to take the role, ruling out Van der Sar; Giggs is no longer guaranteed a first-team place; and Scholes, according to his manager, "doesn't enjoy it one bit".
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will be rested this evening, has deputised in Neville's absence but does not have his colleague's experience or long-standing association with the club.
The only other thirtysomething in Ferguson's squad is Solskjaer, whose chances of making a long-awaited comeback after more than two years of injury problems appear to be dramatically receding. Having initially targeted the beginning of the season, then October and then December, it emerged yesterday that Solskjaer was potentially several months away from resuming normal training, if ever.
The club's doctors are increasingly worried by his progress, and his contract expires at the end of the season. Despite his immense popularity at the club, it would be unrealistic to expect the Glazer family to finance a new deal for a 33-year-old with a history of serious knee problems.
"We are all hoping he can make it back and we will keep praying," said Ferguson. "The first thing I ask the physiotherapist is 'How's Ole?' and always it's 'Just the same, just the same'. I couldn't put a time on it now but it is a worry."
Solskjaer will have been a United player for 10 years in July and will be offered a benefit match. "I'd like to think we would do that," said Ferguson. "I'm almost certain he has a testimonial written into his contract anyway and I know the fans would want to show their appreciation."
Ferguson yesterday hailed Giuseppe Rossi as the best natural finisher to come through the United ranks since Scholes.
"You can't really teach finishing to that level. He is a wonderful finisher and not dissimilar to Paul in a way."
Meanwhile, George Best's family will be given a replacement of the 1968 European Footballer of the Year trophy. Best sold the prize at auction in October 2003 but his former United team-mates Denis Law and Bobby Charlton were in Paris last night to collect the award for Best's relatives.
Guardian Service
