After sharing in their many triumphs over the last 10 years, Denis Irwin expects to know within the next 10 days if he will still be a Manchester United player next season. Stalled talks on a new contract were reactivated last week and it is believed that a deal will be completed before United's next European assignment.

Irwin, who will be 35 in October, is pressing for a deal which will keep him at the club until 2002. The board's initial response was that they would offer a one-year package with an option to renew midway through the season.

Alex Ferguson, a long-time admirer of the player, is among those who believe that he is capable of going on for at least another two seasons and in that situation it is unlikely that the player he signed from Oldham for £650,000 in 1990 will be leaving Old Trafford before 2002.

"In my opinion, Denis is still the best left back in the Premiership," said Ferguson. "With his experience of the big occasion, he's a great asset to the team. And his attitude is such that he'll nearly always deliver in the games which matter."

Irwin, currently in his testimonial year at the club, will have his big evening at Old Trafford on August 16th with Celtic providing the opposition in the club's last game before embarking on another Premiership marathon.

The Irish segment of his testimonial programme will involve a gala dinner in Dublin on May 14th with a celebrity golf outing, featuring many of his Ireland and Manchester United team-mates, at Luttrellstown the following day.