I wouldn't swap Rooney for anybody

Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game against Wolfsburg, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Wayne Rooney could easily be one of the best players in the world. Personally, I wouldn't swap him for anybody; he has such a big influence on our team.

Sometimes the world's best player accolades go to the people who are the most eye-catching and skillful. Rooney obviously has great skill but he also has incredible team qualities - his work rate, his defending, and his goal-scoring abilities all stand out. He's simply a fantastic all-round player.

In some ways, you see a little bit of Roy Keane's character in Rooney and the way he plays. He's very important, he's infectious and sets the tone: Obviously we have a few people who do that, but he has a fantastic desire that transmits itself to the rest of the team.

There are always areas in which players can improve - even players who are over 35 will say they can improve - so certainly Rooney in his early 20s is someone who will get better with experience, and that is great for United fans.

Another player who is finally getting the recognition he deserves is Darren Fletcher. I think Fletcher has always been undervalued. Players like him are always appreciated more internally than externally, but now he's started to get the external plaudits.

His performances in big games going back three or four years have been outstanding. Now you're seeing maturity coming into his game and confidence that comes from playing regularly.

It's difficult sometimes because we're at a club with world-class players, especially in midfield, but he's now almost demanding to be picked every week because of his level of performances. He's added goals to his game, he's getting forward, he's marking players out of games in big matches, and he's developed leadership qualities with Scotland.

Team of character

The 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg was a good result for us. To come back from a goal down again, which we've had to do a couple of times recently, shows great character in the squad. But I also think Wolfsburg were dangerous, and we had to play pretty well, particularly in the second half, to get back into the game. They had a threat up front with the two big lads - Edin Dzeko and Grafite - who have scored lots of goals in the past few seasons.

Six points from two games is a good position to be in and we probably only need another four points to be guaranteed qualification. It's too early to say who will qualify, but we should have a better idea after games three and four.

Over to you

With players like Welbeck, Macheda and the Da Silva, do you think Sir Alex is trying to leave the second edition of the famous 'Fergie Fledglings' as his final legacy? Keith Muscat

I don't think the manager is trying to leave the legacy of a second group of fledglings. He has a consistent mentality to produce young players and that will never change. It has been the same since he came to the club and will be the same until the day he leaves.

If you look at the squad now, there are 11 or 12 players who have come through the ranks and that is an incredible achievement at one of the biggest clubs. He will continue to produce home-grown players in the tradition of the club, which dates back 60 years to the Busby Babes.

A major problem after Edwin Van Der Sar retires will be his replacement - Ben Foster is not the finished article and Thomas Kusczak is not good enough. Do you think we need a world-class experienced goalkeeper to keep pace with the elite? Mario Saliba

Playing in goal for United is very difficult and any mistake that is made will be exaggerated 100 times. It's always difficult when you're transferring from one keeper to another, because it's such a specialised position - it's not like midfield where players interchange every week.

So though I respect the question, I don't think it's fair to Foster or Kusczak, who are very capable of performing for United. They are both very young in 'keepers terms and the manager is very shrewd in the way ihe deals with young players, so he'll know how best to deal with the situation.

Send your questions to Gary Neville to sunday@timesofmalta.com.