BOLTON Wanderers will have to contend with the "best player in the world" when they attempt to spike Manchester United's guns at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the most vilified player in the Premiership since his part in Wayne Rooney's sending off in England's controversial elimination at Portugal's hands in last summer's World Cup, has earned universal respect for the character and class he has shown in leading the Reds' title march.

Favourite to scoop one of the Footballer of the Year awards, he is the danger man Sam Allardyce will instruct his players to pay special attention to as Wanderers look to contain the Premiership leaders with a "no risk" strategy.

And now former Reds utility man, Clayton Blackmore, says the 22-year-old winger - United's 17-goal top scorer - has the world at his feet.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world at the moment," said the former Wales international.

"When I watch wide players these days I always think, Would I want to play against him'. In Ronaldo's case, the answer is categorically no.

"As someone who played with and against Ryan Giggs, I know exactly how good he is. But Ronaldo is something different."

Blackmore is convinced that, with Ronaldo's help, United can lift the European Cup for the third time this season. But, while heaping praise on the gifted youngster, he has hinted at a way Wanderers might shackle him on Saturday.

"He does things in a game situation most people only practise in training," Blackmore added.

"He backheels the ball, plays one-twos with himself, does these reverse passes. Then there are the stepovers . . . people think he is just doing them for effect. But as a defender, it is a total nightmare.

"I have never seen anyone with such quick feet. It is like a blur and you know, at some point, he is going to take the ball with him.

"The only way I can see it is possible to stop him is by getting touch-tight every time the ball gets near him. But even then, he has the pace to get round the back."