Don't worry, you'll get enough football! Fergie had to convince new boy Jones

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that convincing Phil Jones he would play enough first-team football at Manchester United was the key to his £16.5million move to Old Trafford.

United signed the Blackburn defender last month after fighting off competition from Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.

All three rivals tabled offers that met the release clause in Jones's contract at Ewood Park and were prepared to put him straight into the starting line-up, with Arsene Wenger indicating to the 19-year-old that he was ready to build his defence around him.

The new boy in town: Jones with Nemanja Vidic and Mame Biram Diouf during a United training session in Seattle

Jones's preference was always United once Ferguson made his interest known, but he was unsure about his opportunities at Old Trafford with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans already on the books.

However, the United boss used his England Under-21 team-mate Smalling as an example of how quickly he could progress at the club, and convinced Jones that he has a bright future.

'The area we had to work hardest with Phil was to convince him he would get enough football,' said Ferguson.

'The first thing you can say is last season Nani played the most games for us, with 48. He was still 11 short of the maximum.

'No-one at United is going to play the maximum number of games. Rio Ferdinand only played 29 and Nemanja Vidic missed some as well.'

Don't worry you'll play: Sir Alex Ferguson (bottom) has been convincing United new boy Phil Jones

'Twelve months ago, Chris Smalling arrived from Fulham expecting to be eased very gradually into the Old Trafford scene. He eventually made 33 appearances.

'The other thing I explained to him was that we are always trying to look ahead towards the team of the future rather than the team of the present.

'We expect the team of the present to fulfil their responsibilities but the team of the future is the one that is growing whilst the other one is doing the business.'

Jones will have to wait for his debut after only joining up United's touring party in Seattle last Friday.

Ferguson feels the teenager has not had enough training but has promised to give him a run-out against Chicago Fire this weekend.