By Pete Oliver

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs can break Bobby Charlton's appearance record for the club, manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted on Friday.

The Welsh wizard will make his 688th appearance for the Old Trafford club in the local derby against Manchester City, putting the 33-year-old Wales international in joint second place on United's all-time list alongside defender Bill Foulkes.

Charlton, who like Foulkes played in the 1968 European Cup Final victory over Benfica at Wembley, played 759 times for the club.

"I think it's a realistic target, with Ryan's physique," Ferguson told reporters. "He's in great physical shape. He looks after himself, does not carry any weight and there's no reason why he can't play for another two or three years."

Giggs, who is under contract until 2008, made his debut in the 1991-92 season and his form shows no sign of dipping. If anything, he is playing as well as ever with United toping the league.

Sir Alex added: "I think he would have to tailor his game in the sense of where he played, probably as we are trying to do in some games with him playing infield. For the last 15 years he has been up and down that touchline and I don't think there's any player who is capable of doing that in the Premier League for that length of time.

"We've seen them all come and go, wide players, but he is still there. It's an exceptional record."

Victory would stretch United's lead at the top to nine points with second-placed Chelsea not playing until Sunday, when they entertain Arsenal.

Ferguson said it is a good chance to put a bit of pressure on the champions. "I hope it's the case (that United win) and at least then we know that Chelsea are having to make up ground on us," he said.

"They have never had to deal with that. Yes, they have got a lot of experience but nonetheless they've never been there. If we win tomorrow I don't need to worry about what happens on Sunday with the Chelsea game."

United have not lost a league game at home to City, who are 12th in the table, since 1974 -although City have drawn their last two fixtures at Old Trafford.

Patrice Evra is doubtful for United after injuring a calf in Wednesday's Champions League win over Benfica. Park Ji-Sung continued his comeback from an ankle injury by playing 45 minutes for the reserves on Thursday and Ferguson plans to use the South Korean international over the hectic Christmas holiday schedule.