Giggs is vital to United revival: Ferguson

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to fit-again winger Ryan Giggs as the champions target a third successive premier league victory against Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Welshman came on as a 65th-minute substitute at Middlesbrough last weekend and United looked a different team as they secured a 1-0 victory to revive their title hopes.

"It was a terrific performance by Ryan against Middlesbrough, and I thought it was the ideal time for him to come on," Ferguson told Manchester United Radio on Thursday.

"He's had another week's training behind him now so he should be even better.

"It wasn't exactly a hamstring pull he had this time, it was more to do with the back.

"He's been doing a lot of gym work to strengthen his back and hamstring. He only played 20 minutes but the part he played was vital."

Ferguson, however, has more defensive problems after youngster John O'Shea injured himself against Middlesbrough.

"The situation is that John O'Shea is out for two or three weeks," Ferguson said. "He did his groin in the first few minutes against Middlesbrough so that was unfortunate as he'd started really well and I wanted to see how he would cope away from home.

"With David May, Wes Brown and Ronny Johnsen all out too it makes things very light in the centre-back department."

FACE PLASTERED

Ferguson said French defender Laurent Blanc was happy to play despite still suffering pain from his recently broken nose.

"Laurent's nose is OK now. There's pain involved every time he goes to head the ball, whether it's on the forehead or on the top of his head it goes down his face, but centre-halves get used to that.

"I remember Alex McLeish at Aberdeen must have broken his nose about six times, as did (former United defender) Steve Bruce. They just carry on.

"I broke my nose once -- I had a broken nose, cheekbone and eyebrow all at the same time once.

"I was out for six or seven weeks -- they had to put my face in plaster which they did in those days. It was a beauty! I looked like a boxer after a fight."

Southampton lost this fixture 5-0 last season and last won at Old Trafford 17 games ago, in 1988.

"Our record is very good against them, but at this stage I'm not looking at records or who we're playing -- I'm looking at Manchester United," said Ferguson, whose side are only six points behind leaders Newcastle United despite six league defeats already this season.

"We've definitely got to maintain our form of the last two games and get some consistency into the side," the manager added.