Sir Alex Ferguson: 'Tom Cleverley is a fresh player'

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Tom Cleverley is a fresh player for the team.

The veteran manager also commented on how the midfielder was a "revelation" for the Red Devils earlier on in the season.

Cleverley is expected to make his return to the United team in the match against Liverpool tomorrow, most likely starting on the bench having not played any matches since October. However, Ferguson believes that his return will be like adding a new player.

"Cleverley has been terrific in training, it is only games he is short of," said the Scot.

"He has a very quick football brain and he's fresh again now. He was a revelation for us earlier in the season and I think he can do the same again. It is a shame he had to have such a long lay-off because he was proving an important player for us.

"We always knew he was talented but physically he wasn't up to Premier League standards at first. That's why we loaned him out, and once he began to get games with other clubs he came on in leaps and bounds."

The 22-year-old has not featured for the Red Devils since he picked up an ankle injury in October.