Blame fading class of '92

Though there is nothing to suggest that the player will not stay at Old Trafford until at least the end of his current contract in 2006, perhaps the fading of his powers serves to indicate wider problems at his only club. For the fact is that Giggs is not alone.

While players such as Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers - who with Giggs and the departed David Beckham formed the backbone of the United youth side which blossomed in 1992 - continue to confound time, it appears to have caught up a little with others of their era.

Nicky Butt faces a future heavy with uncertainty. The England man, about whom Ferguson once said he has received most transfer enquiries, has been up for sale since January but only Birmingham have came close to signing him.

Forced out of the side this season by the emergence of Phil Neville as a central midfielder, Butt has not been given much of a chance by Ferguson in the eyes of some. When afforded his opportunity by injuries over the past few weeks, he has failed to prove himself indispensable.

Captain Roy Keane, meanwhile, continues to excel and further cements his reputation as one of the game's great players, but he can only do so when his body allows.

Although talk of the passing of an era is as premature as it is absurd, Ferguson does find himself in the unusual situation where he cannot trust his senior men's consistency.

Much has been made of his new players' failures to make an impact, but the manager must also accept that some of his more tried and trusted allies have let him down.

However, as Fergie approaches another pivotal summer looking to build a third great side, he should not lose faith in those who have served him well. The empire has not crumbled yet.

Perhaps some of his players have begun to live off their reputations a little. It is time to prove themselves anew. If they can.