Sir Alex Ferguson will welcome back two members of his old guard to Manchester United on Saturday.
United boss salutes Brown and O'Shea
Sir Alex Ferguson will welcome back two members of his old guard to Manchester United on Saturday.
Wes Brown and John O'Shea amassed over 700 appearances combined for United and are set to return to Old Trafford when Sunderland visit for their Premier League clash with the Champions.
But while Brown is set to face his old club for the first time since departing for the Black Cats in the summer, O'Shea will be nothing more than a spectator due to an injury sidelining him.
And Ferguson has revealed he is delighted to welcome back the United old-boys, who both collected five league title medals in their time with the Red Devils.
"They were instrumental in a lot of our successes over the years," he said.
"They are fantastic professionals. I love both of them in terms of their attitude and loyalty to the club."
Association
Yet that is not the only United connection within Black Cats ranks.
Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley both came through the Red Devils' academy whilst Ferguson will be faced in the opposing dug-out by one of his stalwarts, Steve Bruce, who completed a trio of Sunderland managers with United connections when he followed Roy Keane and Ricky Sbragia as boss in the summer of 2009.
"Our association with Sunderland over the years has been interesting," said Ferguson.
"Steve has been under a bit of pressure but you only need to lose two games in this game today and you are under pressure.
"He has the mettle for it. He has had to cope with one or two injuries but he will get through that. He will be OK."
