Asian players have bright future: Sir Alex

Asian players have bright future: Sir Alex

Agencies, Hong Kong

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said Friday his team's
two Asian recruits - South Korea's Park Ji-Sung and China's Dong
Fangzhou - are a sign of the increasing influence of the region's
soccer players.

"The future is very bright for them," Ferguson said of the new
crop of South Korean, Japanese and Chinese players on the eve of
United's friendly against the Hong Kong national team.

"You'll see more and more of them in the next decade," he said
of the Asian players, who he added were ready to expand their
presence in European football leagues.

Ferguson said Park would play in Saturday's match but Dong
probably wouldn't spend much time on the pitch. The veteran
Premier League manager said the Chinese forward had potential
that would develop in the next three years and that Dong would
have more game time in a July 26 match at Beijing.

"He's very strong, quick and athletic," Ferguson said of Dong.

Ferguson said that midfielder Park's poor English has hampered
his game, but he was optimistic the language barrier would come
down soon.

"In a few months time we'll see improvement in his English,"
Ferguson said. "I think he'll do very well for us."

Ferguson said Manchester United was ready for a tough match on
Saturday, noting that Hong Kong's third-ranked club Kitchee
stunned Italian champion Juventus with a 5-3 win on penalties in
an exhibition match last month. He said such an upset of a
European club in Asia would have been unthinkable two decades
ago.

This is Manchester United's third visit to Hong Kong and its
fourth trip to Asia in the last eight years. The squad includes
big name players Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ruud van Nistelrooy
and Ryan Giggs.

Skipper Roy Keane didn't make the trip because of an injury,
and winger Cristiano Ronaldo stayed behind because his father was
ill, the club said.

Meanwhile, Park Ji-Sung insisted on Friday he can be a huge
hit with the Old Trafford giants.

The 24-year-old midfielder said he is not overawed by the
interest generated by his four-million-pound move to the English
Premiership and is adamant he will not be a bit-part player in
Ferguson's team.

"I have high expectations coming to Manchester," he told
ManUtd.com. "I hope I can live up to that."