Sir Alex picks Man United’s future captain

The champagne may be on ice and the April 30 Manchester derby may still be beckoning, but in terms of the future, not for the first time, Sir Alex Ferguson has seen it. And it is Phil Jones. Sir Alex has identified Phil Jones as a future captain of Manchester United. Jones, who joined United in a £16.5million deal from Blackburn Rovers and is part of England national team now has so impressed Sir Alex, that the Manchester United manager says he believes the 20-year-old will one day lead the club. “He's definitely a future captain,” said Sir Alex. “There's no doubt about that. I said that from the minute he came to us that I thought there was something about the boy.” And while there's no doubt Jones has impressed greatly this season, his progress has been hampered by a number of niggling injuries. “He was doing great until he started getting all these injuries and a bit of illness with 'flu,” said the United boss. “That kind of thing has derailed his time with us as he and Chris Smalling have had a nightmare, the two of them. “If they can stay fit for the rest of the season, it'll be a big bonus for us because they are exceptionally good young players.”