Late sub for Santa Run

01/12/2011 09:00,

Tom Cleverley is to replace Paul Scholes at the annual Santa Run at Old Trafford this Sunday, 4 December.

Scholes was originally scheduled to take part in the MU Foundation event, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the midfield legend is unable to attend.

However, just as he has done on the pitch this season, rising star Cleverley has stepped into Scholesy's boots and will be on hand to officially start the 2km family race at 11.30am.

Foundation chief executive John Shiels said: "We’re extremely pleased that we have a first-team player to start the race and we’re sure everyone will have a great time at our festive charity event.

"It’s unfortunate that Paul is now unable to attend but it can’t be helped.  We are sure the Santa Run will still raise a great deal of money for charity on the day."

Now in its fifth year, the Santa Run raises money for the Foundation and its charity partners The Christie, Francis House and UNICEF – or any other charity.

Following the 2km family run, a 5km route for serious Santas will start at 12.30pm, this year taking in some of Manchester and Salford's finest landmarks.

Starting at Old Trafford, runners will follow a route that takes them past the Imperial War Museum, The Lowry and MediaCity, before finishing with a lap around the world-famous Old Trafford pitch.

source : Manutd

Danny backs Cleverley

08/11/2011 16:07, Report by A Marshall & S Bartram

Danny Welbeck believes his United pal Tom Cleverley can mature into a world-class talent.

The two team-mates are friends off the pitch and have combined to good effect this term, with the midfielder's inch-perfect cross allowing Welbeck to head the Reds' opening goal of the campaign against Spurs in August.

Cleverley's midfield probing has been missed after two spells on the sidelines for the former Wigan loanee but United's No19 feels he will continue to make rapid progress on his return to action.

"I think he can become a world-class player," insisted Welbeck in an exclusive interview with United Review, the club's official programme. "Football is such a simple game, it's how hard you make it for yourself. Tom keeps it so simple and it is hard to do that when you're in centre-midfield, but Tom does that. He gets the ball, passes it, moves into space and he's just always there as an extra option every time you’ve got the ball.

"He's really good to play with, I enjoy playing with him so much and he's got the awareness, the vision and the ability to pick out a pass and actually produce a final pass as well and he's just going to carry on improving. You can see that every single day in training. He's a really good player."

It's little wonder the pair's combination looks so natural considering their upbringing through the ranks at Carrington.

"We are really good friends off the field and quite a few people come up to us and tell us that it shows on the field," added Welbeck.
"We've been through the same training schedule growing up through the Academy, the same coaches who have taught us the same things, so we're on the same wavelength and we know each other's games inside out, more or less.
"We just try to get the ball moving as quick as possible, keep it one-touch and two-touch and I think that's the right way to break down teams."

source : manutd