Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's success has been helped along by chewing gum, according to a study in Japan.

Research at Japan's Institute of Radiological Sciences has indicated that the Scotsman, who is regularly spotted on the touchline during matches chewing, is able to think faster due to the habit.

"Perhaps football managers arrived at the idea of chewing gum by accident but they seem to be on the right track," the Daily Star quotes Professor Andy Smith of Cardiff University as saying.

The Red Devils currently sit at the top of the Premier League table with a nine-point lead.