PARK Ji-Sung is likely to start for United against West Ham tonight and Sir Alex Ferguson sees the 25-year-old having a bright future at Old Trafford.
"In his first season, you would have to say Ji has been terrific," said Ferguson.
"He adds something different to the way we play. His movement and commitment to moving into space has been excellent and he will get better.
"All the little lad needs now is to score a couple of goals in a row or two in one game."
So far, Park has found the net only twice in 36 games since his arrival from PSV Eindhoven, bad luck and bad finishing conspiring against him on numerous occasions.
Encouragement
But Ferguson has not felt the need to offer any specific words of encouragement and insists Park will eventually start scoring on a regular basis.
"He gets into some great positions but he has just been a little bit unlucky at times," said the United boss.
"I have not spoken to him because if he is thinking about it, I don't want to add to it.
"All I want him to do is keep working on his game and he will be okay."
Fergie has drafted in three more youngsters to his squad to face the Hammers this evening.
Joining regular squad members Giuseppe Rossi and Gerard Pique will be midfield trio Markus Neumayr, Richard Jones and Darron Gibson.
Kieran Richardson has a sore ankle joint after picking up a knock that forced him off against Birmingham on Sunday and he is ruled out tonight.
Wes Brown (groin) won't start training until next Monday and is expected to be available again for the vital Arsenal match on April 9.
Should Park be getting more first team action? Have your say.
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i am sure we would all like the little guy to be a success but he has to show more qualities than just enthusiasm and pace. hopefully we haven't seen the full package yet
His work-rate is admirable but, for a player in an attacking midfield position, his current return of 2 goals in 21 starts is just not good enough. Let's hope for better next season.
Parky has been an excellent addition to the squad. Honest and hard-working, I'm sure his progress will continue each season.
Yes but how many goals does he create or help create, the team is better with him in it after all we cant have 11 Ronaldo's we would be relegated. Someone has to put in the graft.
Absolutely! He should get more starting role into his game. It is great to see that Fletcher is out of the team at the moment. I never understand why he has been playing instead of Park.
park was a great buy at 4 mill...but he is not of the calibre of giggs and ronaldo -but rather a very solid squad member with a good work ethic. i think over the last few weeks giggs has been simply awesome.
He was very unlucky in his early games he kept hitting the woodwork! He really deserved to have scored,perhaps it played on his mind after that.A few goals for confidence would make him an even better player.He's doing a good job.
Park is a good player and will become even better. he will benefit if United gets a constructive midfielder. He reads the game well and works as much as Rooney. He is not as technical and skillful player as CR but has great pace.
MU has a good goalk in VDS
a solid defense.
But poor central midfielders: defensive and offensive.
Top wingers( maybe need another one for Gigs place, Richardson is not good enough) and top strikers (if Rud stays)
You will be ok as soon as SAF goes out shoping.
Mr. Park is tremendous! Great news for him and the club!
Park is great and is the future of the club with Ronaldo, Rooney, Rossi, Ricardson, Evra, Vidic, Saha, and Howard.
well said thomas from norway...though startin off the season on a blisterin pace he wasnt gettin into the 1st team at times with players of far less quality playin instead....while his recent performances havent been bad they havent really been outstanding either so i jus hope that he manages to recapture the form he showed at the start of the season..with his pace detemination for winnin the ball back and intelligent passin he can be a valuable asset to the club
Park has been a great addition to the squad, but I would like to see him employed as central midfield as well. But considering that O'Shea seem to work well together, there's no reason to break them up. Park's work ethic is great, just wish he'd find out where the goal is :)
He has been a terrific addition to the squad and will get better next season. He is adaptable on both wings which is a good option to have. What annoys me is when he gets left out in favour of Fletcher and Richardson. He played at PSV for two years with Champions League football, but is at time treated as inexperience compared to the other two. He didn't start one of our Champions League games, yet against AC Milan last season he tore Cafu apart. Ferguson right about him needing a goal, it will give him great confidence. He also has a World Cup to look foward to this summer and he will gain more experience there, as will Nemanja Vidic. I think next season both Park and Vidic will have a major role to play in our first 11. We will strengthen the middle of midfield and have Ronaldo and Park on the wings.
It took Park a year before settling in at PSV. He had some poor showings and things didn't look that good for him the first year. It took Park a year when he first went to Japan too. Park hasn't showed his best yet. Next year will be an important year for Park.
Nice to see the usual array of Utd fans from everywhere but Manchester. All idiots, get your fat backsides from off the sofa!! Funny how your just repeating the pundits but not seeing it for yourself
What a bargain! Park has slotted into the team very well. If I was Fergie I would play him every week. United seem to play a lot more flowing football when he is in team. Sure he has been quite goal shy but look at the number of assists and his general play. I am confident that he will find the net more often next season.
Well done to Fergie! After seeing the likes of DJx2 and Kleberson, I am glad that he has finally made an astute midfield signing. Roll on the summer transfer window and,hopefully, two to three quality signings for our midfield
You hear a lot (form Managers and players) about players needing time to settle after a transfer to another culture. Mr . Park has transitioned beautifully and SAF simply screwed up by not continuing to build on Mr. Park's terrific appearances I earlier in the season. If only all the United players could give as much commitment as this one does, we would not have had the inconsistent performances wehave seen. As far as I am concerned Park and Rooney's work ethic are shining examples for the rest of the squad. The lad is a keeper.
re Giggsy, my fave, he has performed well of late but he still has the damnable tendency to act as a petulant child when he feels he has been fouled and play continues instead of picking himself up and committing to getting the ball back like Rooney and Park do. I love Giggsy but that part of his game drives me bonkers.
maybe I am missing something but apart from running around like a headless chicken what qualities does he actually bring to the side? Can anyone even tell me what his best position may be -- certainly it can't be as a wide player and already it is evident that his defensive qualities are nil as he is constantly ball watching and never seems to pick up an opposing player when we need to defend.
It appears that along with Smithy the very fact that a player is seen to be wholehearted blinds a lot of fans to the fact that the end result amounts to very little.
I am sure we could all name a number of players proven in English football who would have done no worse than Park had they been signed by United a year ago
A pretty good buy really. Not very creative but full of running and enthusiasm, 100% commitment. We just need to get rid of the crap players who, for some reason SAF likes eg Fletcher, O'Shea, Richardson, Silvestre, and Miller. then bring some quality eg Nolan,Barton,Parker,Diop,Reo-coker etc
what's word 4 necessary. just honist and terrific. he's real.
not a very good encouragement from saf, he is doing a very good job at the moment, most importantly hes a team player and being very unselfish to assist alot of goals. what we want is a win, doesnt matter if we have 10 top scorers like rvn and out of all major competitions in an early stage. thanks gus for teaching park being a very completed player and most of all a winner.
park has been a great addition to the squad and deserves to be a first-team regular. this is only his first season with manu. with a few more goals under his best, he will be scoring more goals and more assists than ronaldo.
With this current team he should always figure in the side. Certainly before Fletcher or richardson.
yes Park is very briliant with the ball and always works hard
adrian when park gets a settled run of 6/7 games we will see the best of him. ask yourself this how many goals has the adopted son got this season 1 in 42 appearances and that was abit of a fluke. park should always be in ahead of df