The pressure was on the United defender, with Rio Ferdinand's suspension seeing Brown thrown straight into the back four as cover. However, Brown has looked shaky in defence and was not started in the game against Leeds United and played a reserve team game last week to get back some confidence and match fitness.

The injury to Mikael Silvestre, which sees the Frenchman out of action for the next three weeks, has piled further pressure on Brown who is now likely to start United's next handful of matches. Rio Ferdinand's suspension means there is a place in the England squad for the forthcoming European Championships' available, but Brown is well aware that he will need to make some major improvements to his fitness and his game if he is to be considered for the tournament in Portugal.

"I have to be confident in my own ability. There is no point letting my head drop. I will keep my chin up and keep plugging away because I know my match-fitness will come back sooner rather than later." said Brown.

"Fitness-wise I have not been 100% and that has shown over the past few weeks. But it is getting better. I am doing extra work and I am starting to get my sharpness back. It's all I can do at the moment."

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