Damaged ligaments: The England Under 21 ace is recovering from a foot injury

It earned him a place in the line-up ahead of Michael Carrick for United's first four Barclays Premier League games as the champions made a 100 per cent start to the season, but he then damaged ligaments in his foot in a challenge with Kevin Davies at Bolton a month ago and has been sidelined since.

It has not gone unnoticed at Old Trafford how much United have missed Cleverley's energy and quick distribution during his absence, with United struggling to beat Norwich and drawing with Benfica, Stoke and Basle.

It looks unlikely that he will recover in time for the trip to Liverpool on Saturday, but he should be fit to face City again in the Manchester derby the following weekend.

Cleverley's new deal is also reward for his determination to convince  Ferguson he would make it as a first-team player despite concerns among the coaching staff at United's youth academy that he was too small as a  teenager.

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