Like Edwin van der Sar, Vidic has been an ever-present member of the United defence during their record-breaking run, which they hope to extend to 14 consecutive Premier League clean sheets against Fulham tomorrow night.

Little wonder the tough-tackling Serbian has been installed as favourite for the PFA Player of the Year prize, despite the growing clamour for team-mate Ryan Giggs to win the prestigious award, and attracted admiring glances from AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Not that Vidic has any intention of going anywhere just yet, having relished the three years he has already spent at Old Trafford.

But, as United's trophy-hungry fans spy an unprecedented quintuple to gorge on, the 27-year-old wants to put the analysis of his place in the Hall of Fame on the backburner.

"I have improved my abilities and I have been part of a team that has won trophies and become part of the history of the club," said Vidic.

"It was definitely a good choice to join United, not that I ever worried whether it would be.

"It is always nice to break records and win things but that is something I will enjoy more when I have finished playing.

"Then I want to be able to say I worked hard and won a lot of things.

"But for now, there is no time to enjoy the trophies. You just think about each game."

While even Sir Alex Ferguson would accept United must lose eventually, some matches are becoming more important to win that others.

Victory tomorrow night for instance would allow the Red Devils to wrap one hand around the Premier League trophy as it would take them five points ahead of second-placed Liverpool, eight in front of Aston Villa and 10 clear of Chelsea, their only other realistic challengers.

"We have a great group of players and I think we can do big things," said Vidic.

"I enjoy everything about United and I have learnt a lot since I joined.

"But it is not good to think about what you did in the past. You need to think about the future - that is the mentality of this team. That is how you win trophies."

You also win trophies by having the best players in the best squad, which United undoubtedly have just now.

Given his choice of anyone in the Premier League, Ferguson would probably make a few alterations, for Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for instance.

But as a whole, it is hard to see how the Scot's collection can be matched which is why the odds on an astonishing five-timer are starting to tumble and will fall further still if the Red Devils progress past Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Wayne Rooney's return to the United bench against Roy Hodgson's men only strengthens Ferguson's hand even further, with Vidic eager to add to his personal medal haul of two titles, a Carling Cup and the Champions League since his arrival from Spartak Moscow.

"I won one trophy two years ago and two last season, so I would like to progress again," he said.

"We are in a good position, fighting for everything but it will be hard especially as we still have so many games to play between now and the end of the season.

"I hope we win more than last season and I am optimistic about things, but I never said we would win every trophy."

Vidic is among a clutch of senior players set to get their places back after Ferguson relied heavily on youth for the FA Cup triumph at Derby on Sunday.

Rio Ferdinand, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Carlos Tevez can all expect to be involved, along with Van der Sar.

Having now claimed English and British league records for the amount of time without conceding a goal, the Dutchman is now moving onto the European list.

It has been widely assumed Atletico Madrid's Abel Resino holds that mark with 1,275 minutes, 63 ahead of Van der Sar.

However, the record actually belongs to former Club Bruges stalwart Dany Verlinden, who reached 1,390 minutes in a 16-match run that spanned two seasons in 1990, meaning Van der Sar needs to keep out the Cottagers and Blackburn on Saturday to overhaul him.