Fergie cautious over Neville

United manager won't gamble on defender's fitness

By James Dall   Last updated: 14th July 2008

Gary Neville Manchester United

Neville: Not taking risks

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of Gary Neville's fitness ahead of the new season.

A serious ankle injury, sustained in March 2007, has restricted Neville's first-team opportunities after he suffered a number of setbacks along his road to recovery.

But the right-back, who made just a single appearance last term, came through a first-half outing unscathed in United's 2-0 friendly triumph over Aberdeen on the weekend.

Ferguson has explained that while he was tempted to play Neville for the 90 minutes, he was wary of taking a risk on the 33-year-old following his recent injury troubles.

"It is always difficult, when a player has been out for a year, whether to start the second half with him," Ferguson explained in The Guardian.

"Once he had cooled down, having had injuries, we didn't want to risk it. Gary has come through it, that is the important thing."