Coventry boss Andy Thorn has received a boost from Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The Old Trafford chief was checking on the progress of his young loanee Oliver Norwood and despite City being one place off the bottom of the npower Championship table, Ferguson told Thorn not to get disheartened.

"I had a conversation with Sir Alex about Olly and he said he was pleased he's come here. He's been pleased with the reports from his scouts who have been at some of our games watching him," Thorn told the Coventry Telegraph.

"They will keep tracks on him to see how he's developing and it was nice because he told me to keep going because all the reports he's had suggest we're doing the right things.

"He said we just need to keep plugging away and he's sure it will come for us. So it was nice to hear a few encouraging words."

Thorn added: "I did ask him if he'd got anyone else we could have but he said he needs the boys Giggs and Rooney for the final run in!"

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