Giggs is one of a kind for United

Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan admits is will be almost impossible for another player to match the feats of Ryan Giggs.

The Welsh winger, 35, has just signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford to keep him at United for a 19th season.

Giggs made his United debut in March 1991 and, as well as holding the club’s record for appearances with 787, he has an unparalleled trophy haul.

The veteran has won the Premier League 10 times, lifted the Champions League twice and won the FA Cup four times.

Phelan played alongside Giggs in the twilight of his career as the then-teenager burst onto the scene in the early 1990s.

And Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two believes that Giggs’ record will be tough for a modern player to match.

“I was probably the one that left when he came through. He was one of the new generation but you could see even when I was playing in the team that he was on the verge of breaking in,” Phelan said.

“It was great to watch him training and everybody was talking about him. Once he got in there was not stopping him.

“When you talk about the games he’s played, the competitions he’s been involved in, he’s had the opportunity to get to finals with a good team, a good club, all these factors play a part but he’s had a couple of injuries and he’s come through that.

“The amount of games we play now, does a player play 40 or 50 games a season now? Squad rotation all plays a part.

“Anything’s possible but what Ryan has done, in some ways it’s ridiculous, in other ways it’s fantastic.

“Someone of the quality of Ryan Giggs should be held in high esteem. He’s a credit to the club and the young players do. That’s come through hard work and talent and he’s been rewarded for that.”

Even though United sit top of the Premier League table, are in the last 16 of the Champions League and have a League Cup final with Tottenham next month, Phelan feels there is still plenty more to come from Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The assistant manager believes that United, who have won eight consecutive matches in all competitions, can move to another level once their attack gels.

He added: “We feel as though we can get better and we feel we can score more goals. That’s our aim.

“We work in training on all aspects of the game, on attacking teams, on using the pitch as much as we possibly can.

“But there’s another team you’re playing against and sometimes they try to put you in situations that make it more difficult to score goals and we’ve found that this year.

“We’ve looked comfortable in certain games even though it’s been a 1-0. I know it’s unusual for us to have 1-0s but three points is three points in the league and we’re happy to get them.

“It’s a matter of winning football matches and if we win 4-3, terrific. That’s the record gone but it’s something that happens throughout the course of the season.”

Brazilian Anderson has been struggling with an ankle injury for the past month but Phelan has revealed the midfielder will step up his rehabilitation next week.