Sir Alex Ferguson has backed defender Phil Jones to handle Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies when the two sides meet this weekend.

The Bolton striker, 34, said this week that he was relishing the challenge of going up against Jones, but Ferguson insists that the former Blackburn man will be more than prepared to cope with the challenge.

"Davies is a very difficult customer," Ferguson told reporters. "He uses his physique well, but I think Phil Jones has shown he's quite capable of dealing with different opponents.

"I'm sure he faced Davies last year and has probably played against the likes of Didier Drogba and Peter Crouch.

"It's not as if he's lacking experience of playing against players of that type."

Jones and Jonny Evans are expected to continue their partnership in central defence against Bolton, despite the return of Rio Ferdinand.