legend has praised Red Devils youngsters Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal for their performances in pre-season.
New United boss Erik ten Hag has afforded the pair opportunities to shine as United step up their preparations for the 2022/23 campaign.
Both players featured as substitutes in the friendly wins over Liverpool in Thailand and Melbourne Victory in Australia.
Savage and Iqbal made their senior debuts in the clash against Young Boys at Old Trafford last season.
Ferdinand has been impressed with the displays produced by the 19-year-old midfielders and thinks they have provided ‘good food for thought’.
‘I’ve watched the last two pre-season friendlies and the young lads in midfield there – Charlie Savage has been excellent, Zidane’s been very good as well,’ Rio told the .
‘So I think it’s good food for thought.
‘It’s always that way in pre-season, you get a couple of players who come out of nowhere and you go I didn’t expect that from them.
‘I remember Jesse Lingard all them years ago when David Moyes came and I remember Moyes saying to me, “Rio, I didn’t know Jesse Lingard was that good”.
‘[Wilfried] Zaha was brilliant in pre-season, it didn’t quite work out for him in the long run but you can get your opportunity in pre-season and fly. I’m excited about some of the young players getting opportunities in pre-season, it’s good.’
United have a number of pre-season games left before the new season kicks off in early August.
Up next is a meeting with Crystal Palace, before clashes against Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.
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