SIR Alex Ferguson feels former York City starlet Jonathan Greening passed his sternest test yet after helping Manchester United demolish Bradford City 6-0 at Old Trafford to go top of the Premiership.

The United boss fielded Greening and fellow rising stars Ronnie Wallwork and Quinton Fortune as he rested some of his regulars and was delighted with their displays.

Ferguson was especially pleased because the trio did not have the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Jaap Stam to guide them.

"In many ways they are now standing on their own two feet," said Sir Alex.

"I thought this was a good opportunity to challenge Quinton Fortune and Jonathan Greening.

"Jonathan Greening is an interesting one simply because of the positions he can play.

"He can play as a striker, or he can play as a wide-right player or he can play as a centre midfield player, and he's got to an age now at 21 where this will have been good for him. He will come on from that."

Greening's night ended painfully when he crashed into some advertising hoardings and gashed his thumb setting up Teddy Sheringham for United's fifth goal.

Greening's former York City team mate Richard Cresswell could make his debut for Leicester City against Ipswich Town in tonight's Premiership clash at Filbert Street.

Striker Cresswell, signed by the Foxes last week in an £750,000 deal from Sheffield Wednesday, will probably have to settle for a place on the bench.

Mark Viduka headed home to join up with Australia's Olympics squad today still without a goal for Leeds United and admitting he is not yet 100 per cent fit.

The former Celtic striker will miss Leeds' first three matches in the Champions League as well as vital Premiership games and he confessed after last night's 2-1 home defeat: "Losing to Manchester City wasn't the ideal send-off for me. I wanted to go away with a win and a goal."