Anderson can emerge - Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Anderson will in time enjoy the same legendary status as Bryan Robson and Roy Keane.

The young Brazilian is expected to marshall the Manchester United engine room against QPR on Tuesday and Ferguson feels he is starting to pay back some of his hefty £18million transfer fee.

The Scot knows comparisons with favourites such as Robson and Keane are dangerous and wants United fans to see Anderson develop into his own man.

"Our style has changed over the last few years," said Ferguson.

"We've got different types of players to 10 years ago. You can't replicate every team with identical players - it's impossible."

He added: "Anderson's a different type of player altogether to Keane.

"But when you've lost Keane and you've got Paul Scholes coming to the end of his career, you say, 'Who's going to function for Manchester United?'

"Then a lad like Anderson comes in - just 19 years old when he joined us - and you see the level of his performance.

"You know he's going to become a terrific player and life moves on, United move on, it's inevitable."