The Northern Ireland international stepped in for Nemanja Vidic at Chelsea a week ago when the Serbian was suspended.

He rewarded Ferguson with a towering performance at Stamford Bridge, proving the United boss dead right in his decision not to let Evans join Sunderland on loan for a third successive season.

Evans will have to be patient, though, as Vidic returned to duties against Aalborg four days later and kept his place at Blackburn this weekend.

However, Ferguson has assured the 20-year-old he is the long-term successor to Rio Ferdinand and expects the Belfast-born youngster to eventually take a stranglehold on a central defensive place.

"Evans' career is absolutely guaranteed," said Ferguson. "He is 20, Rio Ferdinand is 30 and Nemanja Vidic is 27 so, in a few years' time, he will be the first choice centre-half there is no question about that."

Evans remains a doubt for Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Slovenia on Saturday.

The defender has been suffering from a virus so severe he made the journey alone to ensure he did not infect any of his team-mates.

Yet the mere fact Nigel Worthington wanted him to make the trip emphasised his ability.

Evans is just one of a group of talented youngsters Ferguson has assembled at Old Trafford that should keep United at the top long after the Scot has stepped down as manager.

Rodrigo Possebon was outstanding in central midfield during the Carling Cup win over Middlesbrough until he got on the wrong end of Emanuel Pogatetz's disgraceful challenge, while Rafael Da Silva was similarly impressive in Denmark last week.

Neither man has celebrated his 20th birthday yet, with the same, obviously, being true of Rafael's twin brother Fabio, who is also tipped for big things by the United hierarchy, and England Under-19 forward Danny Welbeck.

As Anderson and Nani are only 20 and 21 respectively, Ferguson is planning far beyond his retirement date, whenever that may be.

"We have a group of young players who are doing well and showing fantastic potential," said the Scot. "Younger players like Rafael, his brother Fabio, Rodrigo Possebon and Daniel Welbeck, are like the ones we have always tried to have here in the last 15 years.

"Every team needs lads of 20 or younger, who can take over from the ones that were there before who have become middle aged in playing terms, with the middle ones becoming older. That is what you call managing change."