Wayne fit for weekend

25/11/2011 10:00, Report by J Tuck and A Bostock

Wayne Rooney is expected to return from injury for United’s Barclays Premier League clash against high-flying Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The Reds’ top-scorer sustained a hip injury in the win at Swansea last weekend which forced him to miss the midweek draw with Benfica, leading to speculation he could also be out this weekend.

But Sir Alex confirmed Rooney should return for the encounter with Alan Pardew’s men, though the rest of the news on the injury front wasn’t so positive, with Anderson set to be out until February with a knee injury.

"I think Wayne Rooney should be okay for tomorrow," the boss told his Friday press conference. "He trained yesterday so hopefully he'll be okay.

"We've got Vidic back after suspension, of course. Smalling is fit again, which is also a boost, and Rafael's back as well. So the defensive part is okay. Michael Owen's also still injured, of course.

"It's in the midfield area where we've still got issues, with Tom Cleverley and Anderson. So that's two midfield players who are going to be missing for a spell now."

Newcastle are riding high in the league and only suffered their first defeat of the campaign against leaders Manchester City last weekend.

Sir Alex is a confirmed admirer of Pardew and believes his opposite number can take much credit for the Magpies’ current healthy position.

"He is very meticulous in training, he’s grasped the nettle at Newcastle very well and he's showing he's determined to succeed," Sir Alex said. "They're all working like Trojans up there.

"He was very unfortunate in some of his previous appointments – he was one minute away from winning the cup [as manager of West Ham].

"Newcastle aren't doing much wrong at the moment and the quality of the league is improving – you can throw a net over the top five or six."

Newcastle is United's final league game in November before the start of the traditionally hectic festive period, in which the Reds face seven games in December alone.

"December is an ardous month for everyone," Sir Alex said. "But you have a chance in this league if you're still in the ball park by new year. And the way this club is organised to perform in the second half of the season helps us."

source : Manutd

Rooney scare not serious

21/11/2011 14:15, Report by Nick Coppack & Adam Marshall

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to be fit to face Benfica at Old Trafford on Tuesday, despite missing the Reds’ Monday morning training session.

Rooney was not among the 24 outfield players put through their paces at Carrington less than 36 hours before the Champions League Group C clash, but the manager allayed fears the striker had picked up a serious injury when he told media at UEFA’s pre-match press conference that the no.10 should be fine for the game.

"We've got one or two knocks from Saturday," explained the boss. "Jonny Evans has some tightness in his hamstring but will hopefully be okay tomorrow. Wayne's got a few knocks and missed training today but should be okay. Chris Smalling trained this morning but won't be available for tomorrow - he should be okay for Saturday [against Newcastle] and Anderson is out injured."

The manager recognises the importance of the fixture against Benfica and feels it's important to top the group.

"It's a big game," he enthused. "We recognise it's a real European game with the history between Benfica and ourselves. We've had a number of great games in the past and, of course, it always sticks in the memory bank.

"In the first game, I thought we did really well possession-wise and it was a deserved result [1-1]. In the last 15 minutes, they threatened quite a bit and it's a really interesting game tomorrow because both teams want to win, obviously, which should make it an open match. Hopefully, we'll get the result we want.

"Probably the bonus coming out of it is if we do finish top [of the group]. One issue is the teams you'll play but the other one is the second leg is at home at Old Trafford. It's always an advantage so it's always been our intention to finish top. That's not always been the case as we've finished second several times but, with the quality of the teams, it doesn't make a great difference. It could make a little difference and the main advantage, to my mind, is having the second leg at Old Trafford."

source : Manutd

Papers: Vidic warns City

21/11/2011 10:13

Neil Moxley writes in the Daily Mail...

Vidic: Title far from over

Nemanja Vidic has warned Manchester City that their champagne football will stop flowing as the current Premier League champions turned a blind eye to their title rivals. Manchester United’s centre-half and his team-mates stood firm as Javier Hernandez’s typically-predatory first-half strike capped a workmanlike and effective showing in south Wales against Swansea. This was in contrast to another three-goal haul for Roberto Mancini’s men at the Etihad Stadium but from men of such experience as the Serbian defender, there was certainly no panic."We will think about what they are going to do," said the defender, "but only if they are five points ahead of us with six games to go. You can see what I mean from last year. In the first seven or eight games Chelsea played unbelievably. But there was also a time when everything is not going well. It’s a ten-month season and you can’t always play great football. There will be good days and bad days but you have to play as a team. For that reason, we aren’t thinking about them."

Also in the Daily Mail, Patrice Evra is said to be doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Benfica after coming down with a virus. The Reds' left-back was substituted in the 51st minute of the 1-0 win at Swansea on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney, who featured in midfield again at Swansea, is quoted in The Sun saying he's happy to play anywhere for the team - except right-back. "I love it. I don't care where I play," he says. "I'm just happy to be on the pitch, I'll play anywhere. "Well, probably not right-back. But midfield is a role where you can get on the ball and influence the game."

There's a piece in the Independent questioning what an 'assist' is, but nevertheless pointing out that Ryan Giggs notched his 121st in the Premier League at the Liberty Stadium, extending his lead to 33 over Frank Lampard.

And there's plenty of coverage of David Beckham's fairytale end to his five-year spell in the USA. The former Reds midfielder helped LA Galaxy win the MLS title on Sunday.

source : Manutd

Fans' chance to meet Rooney

19/11/2011 22:12, Report by Adam Bostock

Wayne Rooney will be meeting lucky Manchester United fans this week when his official new DVD and Blu-ray goes on sale.

The new release, Wayne Rooney: Goal Machine, celebrates his scoring feats for the Reds by showing more than 150 of his goals for the club, from the simple tap-ins to the sublime and the spectacular. A special bonus feature shows the striker himself picking his top ten.

Fans who purchase the DVD or Blu-ray from the Old Trafford Megastore from Monday 21 November to Wednesday 23 November will get the chance to receive one of 200 Golden Tickets to an official signing session with Wayne on Thursday afternoon.

ManUtd.com will be giving away copies of the DVD in a special competition - look out for details from Monday.

source : Manutd