Flying Giggs a test for Tottenham

Man Utd v Tottenham: Alex Ferguson has hailed resurgent Ryan Giggs as one of the best players in the world ahead of tonight's Premiership meeting with Tottenham. Giggs has given Manchester United chief executive David Gill a major dilemma with a series of inspirational performances in recent weeks.

The 31-year-old scored for the third successive game at Middlesbrough on Saturday, only increasing the clamour for the Welshman to be offered the two-year contract extension he wants.

Gill has steadfastly refused to bend on established United club policy of only offering over 30s single season deals, a move Ferguson has backed both in public and private.

But, with Giggs' contract due to expire in 18 months' time, the club are facing the uncomfortable prospect of being forced to sell Giggs in the summer unless they are willing to let the winger see his current deal run down, raising the possibility of him leaving Old Trafford for nothing.

After seeing his side record their eighth win in nine Premiership outings on Saturday, maintaining a perfect record over the festive period, Ferguson knows his team are now in the kind of form that won them eight Premiership titles in the past 11 seasons.

The Scot's obvious problem is that neither Chelsea nor Arsenal are faltering either. Arsenal have recovered from their autumn blip and are now on a run of five straight victories, while Chelsea have claimed 32 points from a possible 36 since losing at Manchester City in October.

Ferguson had hoped Jose Mourinho's side would slip up at Liverpool at the weekend, only for Joe Cole to score late on to give the Londoners an undeserved triumph.

But the United boss refuses to get downhearted at Chelsea's form and insists he has not given up hope the Stamford Bridge outfit will falter at some stage.

"We are in a selfish world and you have to look after your own, so we are hoping both Chelsea and Arsenal collapse and we can win the title," he said.

"The win at Liverpool was a major result for Chelsea. They needed a bit of luck but that doesn't really matter, they still got the result.

"I am quite happy with the form we are in at the moment, it's certainly good enough to win the championship. The problem is Chelsea are doing equally as well and Arsenal have started winning too."

Providing Cristiano Ronaldo recovers from the calf strain he picked up at the Riverside, United are expected to be unchanged tonight, even though Gary Neville has now recovered from the flu virus that has ruled him out of the last three games.

Brother Phil should keep his slot after filling in superbly, denying Middlesbrough's key man Stewart Downing any space to exhibit his talents and those spoiling tactics will be required again against a Tottenham side who have soared into seventh spot since Martin Jol replaced Jacques Santini as coach.

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane believes United will face a tough test of their title credentials. The 24-year-old, who is still good friends with United centre-back Rio Ferdinand from their time at Leeds, will be leading the attack for the London side.

England striker Jermain Defoe could miss the clash with a knee injury - but the Republic of Ireland striker believes United will not be relishing facing a Tottenham side playing with confidence.

"It's going to be a tough game, we know that, but the way we're playing at the moment I'm sure United won't be really looking forward to us going there," said Keane. "It's going to be tough but it's one all the players are looking forward to."

Ironically, Jol might have been in the home dug-out tonight had events taken a different course as Ferguson sounded the Dutchman out about coming to Old Trafford as his assistant last year before eventually offering Carlos Queiroz a chance to return to the job he vacated for his ill-fated spell at Real Madrid.