Sir Alex Ferguson last night said his assistant Carlos Queiroz would be a strong contender to replace him as Manchester United manager when he retired, but he gave no indication when that would be.

Queiroz, now in his second spell as Ferguson's assistant at Old Trafford after an unsuccessful interim season as Real Madrid manager in 2003-04, has admitted he would like to succeed the 65-year-old Scot, who took charge at Old Trafford in November 1986. "Thankfully I don't have to make the decision," said Ferguson, who was speaking to an audience at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. "I have a great assistant and I think he will be a strong candidate. [But] we have new owners now and I don't know how they look at the situation over in America.

"They have been great supporters of everything we have done but they may have their own ideas. The thing is I have not made my mind up when I'm retiring. It's a difficult one. The important thing is to leave a good team. The present team is very, very good but they will get better."

The France Under-21 midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has committed his future to Newcastle United by signing a five-year contract. Bolton's striker Heidar Helguson will be out for up to seven weeks after ankle surgery.