Giggs leads way for resurgent United on Boxing Day

After a series of flat performances following their 6-1 mauling by City in October, United have recently recovered some of their former swagger, scoring 11 goals in three consecutive victories.

That run of results included a 5-0 demolition of Fulham at Craven Cottage last week, a match where the 38-year-old Giggs extended his remarkable feat of scoring a goal in every Premier League season.

Ferguson singled out Giggs for praise as United look to maintain their momentum with what should be a relatively straightforward assignment against struggling Wigan on Boxing Day.

"He was unbelievable on Wednesday," Ferguson said of Giggs' display against Fulham. "He controlled the midfield. I saw Danny Murphy bellowing to the forwards to come back because he was finding it hard,

"We know he is incredible. It is an established fact. It is an unusual sight we are seeing in the modern-day game, a lad at 38 performing at that level."

Giggs has meanwhile raised the possibility of extending his United career by yet another season.

"It's almost that time when I'll sit down with the manager and see what his plans are and I'll see how I'm feeling," Giggs told www.manutd.com.

"At the moment I feel really good and I'm enjoying things more than ever, so we'll just have to wait and see."

Giggs believes United's character has enabled them to stay in contention in the title race -- they remain just two points behind City -- despite the disappointments of the 6-1 thrashing by City, elimination from the Champions League and getting knocked out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace.

"If you lose a derby game 6-1, get knocked out by a Championship team in the quarter-final of the (League) Cup and lose to Basel, who are not a power in Europe, you can understand the criticism," Giggs said.

"But we have shown the resilience and determination to do something about it each time it has happened. These were bad results for us but the character of the team has rescued us each time."

City manager Roberto Mancini has called on his squad to prove their title credentials by winning on the road at West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

City have been invincible at their Eastlands fortress this season, with nine wins from nine matches. But Mancini's men have taken just one point from their last two away fixtures, a statistic the Italian is determined to improve.

"We still have Chelsea, United, Tottenham and Liverpool to come to (Eastlands), but we need to win away games as well, and we have only one point from our last two," said Mancini.

"I have a lot of respect for West Bromwich, and for (manager) Roy Hodgson - he is one of the best managers in Europe. It will be very hard because they play good football. They have had some problems but won their last two away games and seem to be in good form."

In other games on Monday, Chelsea will be confident of collecting all three points as they face a Fulham side still struggling to shake off the after-effects of last week's 5-0 home mauling by Manchester United.

Liverpool meanwhile will be anxious to take maximum points from bottom club Blackburn at Anfield after disappointment last week in a 0-0 draw with Wigan.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish -- who led Blackburn to their league title in 1995 -- has expressed sympathy for current Rovers boss Steve Kean, who has faced a daily torrent of abuse from disgruntled fans who have demanded his sacking.

"They are under a lot of pressure and the frustration is understandable in many ways, but I don't think it is helpful and I think it is sad really that it has come to that - but that is the way it is," Dalglish said.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated):

Monday:

Chelsea v Fulham (1300), Bolton v Newcastle, Liverpool v Blackburn, Manchester United v Wigan, Sunderland v Everton, West Brom v Manchester City, Stoke v Aston Villa (1945)

Tuesday:

Arsenal v Wolverhampton, Swansea v QPR (1700), Norwich v Tottenham (1930)