Sir Alex Ferguson is crossing his fingers Wes Brown is finally
over his injury nightmare.
Brown's medical history at Manchester United does not make
pretty reading.
Cruciate ligament operations on both knees and a broken ankle
for a start, plus a multitude of muscular problems that restricted
him to an average of 20 Premier League starts a year until the
season before last.
That memorable campaign allowed Brown to reclaim his England
place and oust skipper Gary Neville as first-choice right-back in a
season that ended in glory on both Premier League and Champions
League fronts.
However, any feeling that Brown's fitness curse had been cured
was cruelly dashed last term when an autumn ankle operation was
followed by a foot injury that kept him on the sidelines nearly all
year.
Although he returned to duty at Hull on the final day of the
campaign, it was only Brown's 13th appearance in all competitions,
a wretched return from one of the most congested seasons United
have ever completed.
In addition, having regained his England place under Fabio
Capello, apparently as first-choice right-back, Brown has promptly
lost it again, his absence offering Liverpool new boy Glen Johnson
the chance to impress.
Thankfully, Brown has managed to come through the early part of
pre-season unscathed.
He was the only Red Devil to complete the full 90 minutes
against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night and, with
Neville also feeling his way back after long-term problems,
Ferguson realises just how important it will be to have the
29-year-old available on a regular basis again.
"If Wes stays fit, we are in business because he is a fantastic
defender," said Ferguson.
"Even against the Malaysian team, on a couple of occasions he
has showed real experience in handling one-versus-one
situations.
"That is what he is really good at. His timing and reading of
situations is fantastic. He is quick to get to the ball."
However, Ferguson knows there has to be an element of doubt,
purely because of what Brown has been through in the past.
"If Wes stays fit, it is an absolute bonus for us," said
Ferguson.
"You have to hope he gets the kind of luck he deserves because,
when you look at his injury record, it is not a good one."