Neville: Hughes could make it at United

Manchester United captain Gary Neville has backed Blackburn manager Mark Hughes as a viable contender to replace Sir Alex Ferguson when he finally leaves Old Trafford.

Neville played with a clutch of one-time United players now in management but has named Hughes as the most suited to following in the Scot's footsteps.

The England full-back told the Daily Mirror: "Playing with the likes of Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce you always thought they'd go on to be managers. Some may have thought one of them would be our next manager but I certainly didn't think Sparky [Hughes] would be a manager, yet out of the three he's probably now the most outstanding candidate for it."

Ferguson performed a U-turn in 2002 after claiming he would retire at the end of the 2001/02 season and instead signed a new deal with the club.

Although there is no fixed date for his departure at the moment, the speculation over his successor is never far away and Neville's backing is sure to put Hughes' name firmly back in the frame.

Neville, an influential figure in the United dressing room, is also pleased that Ferguson stayed with the Red Devils after his initial retirement plans.

"Sven [Goran-Eriksson] was mentioned a few years ago when our manager was talking about retiring," he added.

"You think back now to the choices being talked about and they would have been disastrous."