SIMPSON STILL HOPEFUL OF UNITED PLACE

Simpson - on loan at Blackburn.

Danny Simpson is confident he will return to Manchester United a more complete player, and ready to fight for his place in the first-team.

The 21-year-old defender is currently with Blackburn after signing at Ewood Park on a season-long loan during the summer.

He watched on last week as Brazilian youngster Rafael da Silva made his Red Devils debut at right-back in the UEFA Champions League.

Simpson was impressed by Rafael's performance against Aalborg, but is not worried that he may return to Old Trafford at the end of the next campaign further down than the pecking order.

"I saw Rafael's debut on TV and he played really well," he told M.E.N. Sport. "But I never looked on it as blocking my way back.

"It is good to see young lads getting a chance. That is what Man United is all about and you don't expect any different. Good luck to him.

"It can all come down to experience in the end and here at Blackburn I am getting a lot of it in the Premier League every week now.

"If I play 20-30 matches in the Premier League it will make me a better player. I could go back to Old Trafford and the other younger lads then might go out on loan. You just never know. Things change week in week out.

"I don't think the new group of lads emerging shuts the door on the likes of myself. You never know what is around the corner in football.

"When you leave United it could be a case of out of sight out of mind. You might worry about that in the past but not now."