Denis Irwin has backed Manchester United to qualify for next season's Champions League, providing that they can win their next two Premier League fixtures.

United return to action with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night, before Sheffield United are the visitors to Old Trafford next week.

With the club's other seven fixtures against teams from the bottom half of the table, Irwin has admitted that everything will be in his former team's favour if they can overcome the North Londoners and the Blades.

Speaking to the club's official website, the ex-full-back said: "You look at that first week or so and there are some big games there. It would be great if we won and got up and running; it really would give us huge confidence.

"I don't like saying this but, on paper, if we get over that, you look at the next six or seven games favourably. But you know it's not going to be like that. It's going into the unknown again almost. It's a big game and I'm just looking forward to football, in general, returning."

Irwin enjoyed a hugely successful career at United, making 529 appearances between 1990 and 2002.