Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says the current Manchester United team is Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest.

Allardyce said: "For me, it will be the best. You look at this United team and you see youth, vibrancy, talent and more players with all those qualities than he has ever had before.

"As well as that, he has the last hurrah of the Fergie fledglings, as they were called. They are still in amongst it, showing how it should be done."

Paul Scholes opened the scoring on Wednesday with a 25-yard volley and Allardyce believes his influence, along with that of Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, remains vital.

He added: "Those three will not let the other players forget 'This is Manchester United, this is how it is'.

"They still have a massive influence on the way Manchester United should be and the way you should be when you play for them."

Many thought Ferguson could not build another side to match those illustrious predecessors, as United went three seasons without the title from 2003.

But Allardyce said: "After that spell of not doing as well as he had done, he has been the master of recreating yet another magnificent team. He has always rebuilt and rebuilt.

"This time he has gone younger and younger. Just look at those two Brazilian lads, Fabio and Rafael. Brilliant.

"He has re-established himself at the top of the tree and found formidable young players along the way."