Park and Dong have bright future - Ferguson
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-25 09:46

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said his team's two Asian recruits - South Korea's Park Ji-Sung and China's Dong Fangzhou - are a sign of the increasing influence of the region's soccer players.

Dong Fangzhuo arrives in Beijing with Man Utd. [sina]

"The future is very bright for them," Ferguson said of the new crop of South Korean, Japanese and Chinese players on the eve of United's friendly against the Hong Kong national team.

"You'll see more and more of them in the next decade," he said of the Asian players, who he added were ready to expand their presence in European football leagues.

Ferguson said Park would play in Saturday's match but Dong probably wouldn't spend much time on the pitch. The veteran Premier League manager said the Chinese forward had potential that would develop in the next three years and that Dong would have more game time in a July 26 match at Beijing.

"He's very strong, quick and athletic," Ferguson said of Dong.

Ferguson said that midfielder Park's poor English has hampered his game, but he was optimistic the language barrier would come down soon.

"In a few months time we'll see improvement in his English," Ferguson said. "I think he'll do very well for us."

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