SIR ALEX FERGUSON was on the golf course when he won the Premiership for the first time. He was on the 17th green at Mottram Hall with his son Mark when a stranger rushed over, announcing that Aston Villa had failed to beat Oldham and the 1992-93 title was Manchester United’s.

The last time United became champions, in 2002-3, Ferguson capered at his young granddaughter’s birthday party while Arsenal’s challenge was dying against Leeds. Worrying overly about what his rivals are doing was never his thing. Rather than watch Arsenal against Chelsea on television, Ferguson will, flights permitting, be in Spain today to take in Real Zaragoza versus Racing Santander.

Gerard Pique, the young defender United have loaned to Zaragoza, is up against Nikola Zigic, Santander’s 6ft 7in Serb, and it is a good opportunity for Ferguson to see whether his boy has truly become a man. Pique has impressed during a season in La Liga, playing most of Zaragoza’s games and scoring in a cup victory over Barcelona.

He is 20 and Ferguson wants him back at Old Trafford for 2007-8. With faith in Gabriel Henize and Mikael Silvestre diminished, there is an opportunity for somebody new to challenge Wes Brown as cover for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Pique and another loaned-out United youngster, 19-year-old Jonny Evans of Sunderland, will be invited to apply for the vacancy.

It is typical of Ferguson that with a ninth title beckoning, he has started plotting winning a 10th. Arsenal, with their kids, are talked about as “the future”, but United look set for glory far beyond the here and now. The average age (27.4) of Ferguson’s regular first XI this season is only one year older than Arsène Wenger’s (26.4), despite the venerable nature of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

For next season Ben Foster, 24, will return from loan at Watford and may replace 36-year-old Edwin van der Sar in goal, and when Ferguson completes the long-awaited signing of Owen Hargreaves, 26, he will add further youth to the ranks. Another target, 18-year-old Micah Richards, is sufficiently enticed by Ferguson’s interest to risk the political ramifications of moving to United from Manchester City.

Louis Saha’s susceptibility to injuries has tired Ferguson and should he move for a new striker it will be for a youngish player, such as Fernando Torres, Dimitar Berbatov or Samuel Eto’o. Expressing his desire to “draw a line” under his spat with Jose Mourinho over Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson said of United’s visit to Stamford Bridge: “If I’m invited for a glass of wine with him, of course I’ll attend, because I don’t think this has damaged our relationship. We all have our opinions. Football should be a challenge between groups of players, but with Jose’s continual – how should I put it? – ‘dialogue’, sometimes, as a manager, you quite enjoy having a go back.”

Ferguson expects Chelsea to spend big again over the summer. Although none of United’s targets would come cheap, progressing young talents continues to be Ferguson’s preferred way of reaching success and the quality/age equation of his resources gives him every chance of building something lasting.

Paul McGuinness’s under18 side has Ferguson smacking his lips. The youngsters surprised the manager by making the final of the FA Youth Cup, where they took Liverpool, the holders, all the way to penalties, despite featuring several 16-and 17-year-olds.

Then there are Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, 21 and 22. So grey were some of Rooney’s performances in early season that he was beginning to look washed out, but recent weeks have seen colour return to the most vivid English talent of two generations. His slump appears no more than growing pains, exacerbated by the lingering effects of his metatarsal injury.

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