Richard Jolly at Old Trafford

The question of the succession has been mentioned for a decade and more at Old Trafford. Yet while Sir Alex Ferguson remains, as defiant as ever, at the helm, the manager has found new generations of players to epitomise and galvanise Manchester United. Once it was Roy Keane and David Beckham, later Ruud van Nistelrooy and then Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, beyond doubt, it is Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United 1 - 0 Birmingham