WARMING THE BENCH

Last updated : 13 April 2004 By editor

Sir Alex Ferguson will give Cristiano Ronaldo the Ryan Giggs treatment to ensure he does not have his career shortened by burn-out.

Ferguson said:

"Cristiano is a sensational talent, but we have to be careful and make sure we monitor the number of games we give him. Ensuring young players do not get burned out too early is one of the things I have learned in my time as manager. Ryan Giggs got exactly the same treatment and I would like to think he has been able to play at the highest level for 14 years simply because we watched what we did with him when he was a boy."