Ferguson endorses rule change

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The regulation was put forward earlier this week as the reason Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle might take legal action against Manchester United for the team they are likely to put out at Hull.

Acutely aware of the importance of the occasion, Ferguson has tried to calm fears of a half-hearted United performance at the KC Stadium but concedes; "It has never been practical for years now."

Given the Red Devils face Barcelona in the Champions League final on Wednesday, it is inevitable the vast majority of his senior stars will not even make the trip across the Pennines, let alone actually play.

Such a stance would appear to flout Premier League rules.

However, given the squad systems now in operation, Ferguson does not feel it is an effective law anyway.

"Richard Scudamore has more or less said that and he is chief executive of the Premier League, so he is speaking from a position of authority," he added.

"The modern day game is about a squad. Everyone uses it, even teams fighting down at the bottom.

"The days when Liverpool won the league only using 14 players are no longer possible. Nobody even thinks about that now."