MANCHESTER (AFP) ― Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has hailed QPR’s South Korea midfielder Park Ji-sung as “one of the best professionals” he has had during his 26-year reign at Old Trafford.

Park left United in July to join QPR in a 2 million pounds deal which ended his seven-year spell at United, during which the South Korean won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, and three League Cups.

The 31-year-old, who has missed the last four matches with a knee injury, may not recover in time to face his former club when QPR visit Old Trafford on Saturday.

But Ferguson still took the opportunity to lavish praise on Park as he recalled the midfielder’s crucial contributions in big matches, especially the 7-2 aggregate win over AC Milan in the Champions League in 2010.

“He was truly fantastic, particularly in big games,” Ferguson said. “I loved playing him in the big games. His record against Arsenal, for instance, was fantastic.

“The Milan games over there and at Old Trafford, when I asked Park to play directly against (Andrea) Pirlo, are memorable.

“He never gave Pirlo a kick and he kept running off him which was brilliant too. Park had roles that only a disciplined and selfless player could have.

“That’s exactly what he was, selfless. He played for the team and whatever role you gave him, he would stick to that role. He was a really wonderful, disciplined professional for us.”