Fergie expects van der Sar swansong

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expects this season to be goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s last.

The former Fulham shot-stopper has impressed since signing with the Old Trafford outfit in 2005 but, having turned 40 in October, has been widely tipped to retire at the end of the season.

Despite the fact the Dutch custodian is yet to announce when he will call time on his career, Ferguson understands that the 2010/11 Premier League campaign will be his swansong.

“I have come to accept this will be Edwin’s last season,” Ferguson told The People.

“We had a chat last season about how he saw his future and he explained to me his plans, and nothing has changed from then.”

Last year van der Sar’s wife suffered a suspected brain haemorrhage and despite the fact she has made a full recovery, Ferguson admitted it will play a part in his decision to leave the game.

“It’s difficult because he has his wife’s health to consider after her ?illness,” he said.

“She is fine now and seems to be really good but she still has treatments to get in Holland, with physiotherapy and things like that. So for him to be here with us would be difficult.”

Ferguson used the dramatic drop in form of former Leicester and Nottingham Forest star Peter Shilton as an example of why goalkeepers should not play beyond 40.

“It’s sad but the difficulty for a goalkeeper when he gets to 40 is something which happened with Peter Shilton.”

“All of a sudden, because of age, Shilton’s form just collapsed and I don’t think Edwin would want that. He is such a proud man and it’s going to be a big loss.”

The mid-week signing of Danish shot-stopper Anders Lindegaard will provide cover upon van der Sar’s eventual departure, but Ferguson has not ruled out more signings to strengthen his side’s goalkeeping ranks.

“We haven’t finalised our thoughts on the goalkeeping situation.”

“Edwin has massive experience and you can’t buy that, so it’s a difficult one because he has been a great ?goalkeeper and will be hard to replace.”