Wes Brown bewildered look just temporary, Fergie insists

Alex Ferguson has backed impala-in-headlights defender Wes Brown to recover from what may be a serious medical condition.

The youthful star of ER and Casualty has provided an endless source of amusement to opposing teams and their fans with his look of pure shock every time one of his team mates cocks up.

Debate has circulated around Old Trafford as to whether Brown's amazing startled look is inborn or simply a result of having to play in the same team as Fabien Barthez, Mikael Silvestre and the Neville Brothers.

Brown's doctors are worried that the star has not progressed much recently in tackling the crippling condition. The specialist who has been treating him ever since he reached the first team squad is clear: "Wes was getting better until a year or so ago. His eyes were beginning to stare a little less wildly and his limb movements were approaching normality. Then Ferguson went and signed Veron and Blanc and he was back to looking like a bemused cow on poppers in an all-night discotheque."

Others have pointed out that if the condition is hereditary then by imagining it can be cured Brown and his supporters are just deluding themselves.

However Manchester United officials pointed that if reporters are interested in an amusing story about self-delusion at the club then the idea that Diego Forlan is poised to turn himself into a top-scoring striker is much funnier.