But the 21-year-old has thanked United supporters for sticking by him during a difficult period.

"The fans have helped me so much," said Ronaldo. "When I arrived back after the World Cup -- it was a bit difficult for me. But I think the supporters have helped me, and I'm very appreciative to the club, and my teammates. Manchester, the club, has helped me so much.

"It's in the past. Now I think about the present, and I think the present is good. I want to keep going. The team is playing very well, I'm playing well, and this is why I'm very good here. I'm happy with my form, I try to do a good job. Every season I try to improve myself. I learn every season, and I'm very happy to do a great job for the club."

time.

"He is still hankering after another Champions League and that's probably what's driving him now," said 43-year-old Hughes, who helped United win two titles, three FA Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup and League Cup during two playing spells at the club.

"He's still got that drive and that ambition, absolutely, but a Champions League victory would maybe get him asking whether or not he wants to do it anymore."

Despite watching his side lose their last three league games, Hughes is refusing to press the panic button. Blackburn are still without influential midfielder Robbie Savage, out for a month with a damaged thigh, while striker Jason Roberts, Steven Reid and New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen are long-term absentees.

Ferguson is desperate for United to bounce back in style after entering their 21st year under his command with a humiliating cup defeat. Freddy Eastwood's spectacular free-kick proved sufficient for Southend to win a place in the quarter-finals as a United side containing 10 internationals went down to the Championship's rock bottom club.

United have won four, lost four and drawn four of their 12 Premiership visits to Ewood Park, but they have not left with all three points in eight years, since Andy Cole, Paul Scholes and David Beckham scored in a 3-1 triumph in April 1998.

Scholes, who was rested in midweek, is set to make his 350th Premiership appearance as Ferguson fields his strongest possible line-up with French striker Louis Saha, United's seven-goal leading scorer, also returning to the fold.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been booed by opposition fans all season due to his role in Wayne Rooney's dismissal in England's World Cup exit, and the Portugual winger expects similar treatment at Blackburn.

If Sir Alex Ferguson was to retire tomorrow, Mark Hughes would be a credible

candidate to succeed him at the helm of Manchester United.

But the Blackburn boss, whose side beat United in both their Premiership encounters last season, believes it could be years before that particularly vacancy becomes available.

Hughes knows Ferguson better than most having played under him for years, and the two men face each other in opposite dug-outs on Saturday as Blackburn look to continue their good run against the Premiership leaders.

Despite being singled out as a possible successor, Hughes insists Ferguson is still in it for the long term at United.

"I don't think who will succeed Sir Alex is something that anybody needs to worry about for a number of years yet, " said Hughes.

"You look at him now and he has that glint in his eye again because he is building another team and he's got young players coming through.

"He really enjoys that part of the job when he sees them come through and achieve their potential. He has built teams before and dismantled them and that's the part of the job he really loves.

"I've only been at Blackburn for two and a bit years and I know how hard the job is, so for Sir Alex to stay at the top as long as he has does him great credit."

Despite United's embarrassing exit from the League Cup at the hands of Championship side Southend United on Tuesday, Hughes believes that the only competition that really matters to Ferguson is the Champions League. And he thinks that Ferguson might just opt to walk away from United if he can get his hands on the trophy one more