Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic believes that teammate Rio Ferdinand has proved to his critics that he can still compete at the top level.

There were suggestions earlier this season that the England international could be coming to the end of his Red Devils career, but Vidic is confident that the 33-year-old can continue to dominate the United defence.

"At the beginning of the season there were a lot of people questioning Rio, asking whether he could do what he did in the past, can he play, is he finished?" the Daily Mail quotes Vidic as saying.

"This was nonsense. Rio has hunger and now he has proved people they are wrong. He is a very important player, not just this year but over the past years and he has done very well over the last few months."

The North West side are on course to clinch their 20th league title this season as they sit five points clear at the top of the table.