Neville Pleased By Squad Strength

United skipper believes the team have proved their title capabilities as the fringe players have crushed Everton on Wednesday night.

The Reds are in impressive form, we are now unbeaten in ten league games, having taken 26 points from the maximum 30 in the process. Yet some of our critics observed we would not be able to keep up this pace as our biggest weakness is the lack of depth in the squad. Gary Neville feels United have proved the contrary of it with a 3-0 victory over Everton which saw five changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Chelsea on Sunday.

There has been a lot of talk about the squads of the teams at the top but we have shown we can handle some changes,' the United skipper said.

'Players who deserved a chance came in and did a great job. They were the ones who carried us through the game because some of the lads who have been in the team all the time were quite sluggish, I know I was.

'But Darren helped a lot down my side, Kieran penetrated quite a bit down the left, John O'Shea did well in midfield and Mikael Silvestre looked as though he had never been away in defence.

'Considering those lads had not played a lot recently they did very well.'

Gary Neville might be a family man but his brotherly feelings did not extend to yesterday's game even though they've made history with Phil, the first time two brother captained opposing sides in the Premiership.

'It was an honour to walk out together but it was not something I had thought about too much,' Gary said.

'He was upset anyway because he wanted Everton to walk along the row of our players and shake hands. I told him no. You don't do that at Old Trafford. We come along and shake your hands, not the other way round.'

Why on earth was it important for Phil Neville, I do not understand. Fortunately, that was not the biggest concern of his night as the lads caused enough problems for Everton to distract him...

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