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."