English Debate: Are Gary Neville's Days In A United Shirt Numbered?

Veteran right back Gary Neville was a mainstay in Manchester United's and England's rearguard for a decade, but while he spent 18 months on the sidelines Wes Brown emerged as a solid option. Rafael too has shown in his few outings thus far that he has a promising future ahead of him, so where does this leave the United captain?

Is it going to become common for portuguese-speaking wonderkids to replace the aging English talent that broke through the Manchester United ranks in the early 1990s? 

Cristiano Ronaldo was the scion to David Beckham's number seven shirt in 2003, and now the right back berth could be on the verge of being surrendered to fledgling star-in-the-making Rafael da Silva. 

With another impressive outing in a Red Devils shirt the young Brazilian wing back increased his stock with surging runs; sweeping crosses; and shots on goal in United's 3-0 away win over Danish side Aalborg.

Academy director of Manchester United Les Kershaw first became aware of Rafael and his twin brother Fabio while the pair represented Fluminense at youth level in Hong Kong but only officially signed for the double winners this year, and already the former has been touted to displace Gary Neville and Wes Brown as the club's first choice right-back. 

While Neville and Brown are certainly still regarded as the preferable option in games requiring added experience, should Rafael continue to perform when called upon it is surely only a matter of time until Neville starts contributing as much as he did whilst injured for the whole of last season.

In Gary Neville's twilight years it is virtually impossible to replicate the energy that Rafael has in abundance. While Neville was long considered the chief organiser of Manchester United's backline prior to his niggling injuries, Rafael can deliver an alternate role: running the lines; driving on; and providing his team with extra width going forward. Rafael goes the extra step, and is not averse to shooting should he be given ample space.

Ankle and thigh injuries had kept Neville out of action for club and country for 18 months, grudgingly relinquishing his duties to Wes Brown, who helped the Old Trafford firm claim a Premier League crown topped with Champions League glory the following week.

Rafael, 18, is still susceptible to mistakes though. While his flair going forward poses problems for opposition rearguard's his own defending may need work as team-mates - such as John O'Shea - had to cover for the Brazilian. 

The importance of not neglecting his defensive duties can easily be instilled in the boy, but unfortunately the perfect coach to teach him those qualities is now Portugal's full-time manager. However, United have a worthy replacement in current assistant Mike Phelan, who featured as a right back during his own playing days for Manchester United prior to the arrival of Denis Irwin in 1990.

Neville, 34 in five months, will have had mixed emotions watching Rafael making his Champions League debut last night. On the one hand it looks as though Manchester United's looks secure in the long-term with all the fantastic talent on the horizion, but on the other it jeopardises his own short-term future.

When Rafael made his first team outing in a friendly match against Peterborough in August, Neville welcomed the competition, stating: "I saw Rafael in the friendly against Peterborough and I didn't particularly like what I saw," he joked in the Sunday Times. 

"On a serious note, he has absolutely fantastic potential. His level of fitness and skill: it's the way the game is going now. Us old, solid right-backs don't seem to be the way forward, it's going in the other direction," he concluded, perhaps alluding to the imminent transfer of Jose Bosingwa at the time to Chelsea - who has gone on to look like one of the buys of the season despite the weighty Harrod's tag. 

Sir Alex Ferguson shared Neville's sentiments: "Rafael was a sensation [against Peterborough]. It was a real eye opener... he hadn't played for a year but he played a full 90 minutes. On the evidence of tonight I think we have got a good player here."

After his outing against Juventus, Ferguson told MUTV: "Rafael started quietly but then he exploded into the game."

Rafael's starting debut, against Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup was equally impressive: 76,000 roaring fans in the Theatre of Dreams can seem like an intimidating arena, but Rafael took it in his stride, as Ryan Giggs testified: "As a Manchester United player you know you’ve got the ability, it’s whether you’ve got the temperament, and I thought the young lads, especially Rafael, who came in showed that temperament."

His latest performance in a United shirt has born similar ramifications. Rafael's opposite number, Patrice Evra, told the club's official website: "He looks to be a very good player and he is ready to play for Manchester United... He is the future of the club."

In perhaps what is the greatest exhibition of evidence for Rafael's growing stature in the United camp, Sir Alex reflected thus on his European debut: "Some people might have been a bit surprised I picked him over Wes Brown but I feel the boy has something special."

United are currently spoilt for right backs, and Rafael's emergence spells the end for Salford born Danny Simpson. The only question that remains is, how long will Ferguson patiently wait for Neville when there are two other competant full backs waiting in the wings in Brown and da Silva? 

People may point to the Neville holding the captaincy, but United are also spoilt for leaders: Rio Ferdinand; Ryan Giggs; and to a lesser extent Edwin van der Sar; Owen Hargreaves; and Nemanja Vidic, are all worthy of deputising.