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

Fletcher feels for Cleverley

21/11/2011 11:22, Report by Adam Marshall

Darren Fletcher admits fellow midfielder Tom Cleverley will be missed by Manchester United as he recovers from an ankle ligament injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson ruled the England squad member out of action until Christmas after he suffered a recurrence of the problem during the win at Everton. However, Fletcher is convinced Cleverley will return to play a key role this term.

"It is disappointing," conceded the Scot. "Tom will be very disappointed personally, as we are as a team. He had been performing so well and had a great start to the season. The important thing now is that he gets the injury right. It is one of those niggly ones. He came back and had a recurrence.

"The best thing for him to do is get himself right. He will be an important player for the remainder of the season and hopefully the push for silverware. He is thought very highly of and rightly so because of his performances. People say he is still young but he has had a lot of experience. He was in the [Barclays] Premier League with Wigan last year and had a loan spell at Watford.

"He did fantastically well at both clubs. We are delighted to have him back from Wigan. He is an important part of our squad now and has fought his way into the team with some great performances this season."

Fletcher will be hoping to start against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday and realises that it's important for the Reds to win Group C.

"You do want to finish top," he asserted. "First and foremost, you look to qualify for the knockout stages. But you want to finish top, for the last-16 draw and for other perks like playing the second leg at home.

"We saw Arsenal finish second in their group last season and end up being drawn against Barcelona. Although people say you have to beat these teams if you want to win it, it is good to avoid them until later in the competition.

"The threat in this season's Champions League is from the usual places. The other teams in England, plus Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Bayern Munich have been mightily impressive and the Italian teams have great experience. Competition in the knockout stages is very fierce. There are no easy games and a lot of teams will be thinking they can go on and win it."

Fletcher was speaking to ManUtd.com, PA Sport, BBC Radio Manchester and Key 103.

source : Manutd

18/11/2011 12:30, Report by Mark Froggatt3

Sir Alex Ferguson says Tom Cleverley will be out of action until Christmas after scans proved the ankle injury sustained against Everton in October is worse than first thought.

The boss also confirmed Danny Welbeck’s exclusion from United’s travelling squad to face Swansea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, after the striker suffered a muscle strain whilst on international duty with England.

Ashley Young is fit to face the Swans at the Liberty Stadium, however, and Chris Smalling will hopefully return to first-team duties against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

The manager told MUTV: “No-one’s injured from the internationals, the ones who’ve played anyway, which is good. Danny Welbeck, as you know, came back with an injury from an England training session and he won’t be available for Swansea.

“Chris Smalling is not far away but I don’t think he’ll be back tomorrow, I think he’ll be ready for Wednesday. Michael Owen and Tom Cleverley are pretty long-term. I think Christmas time for both of them, which is unfortunate for us.

“It’s worse than we thought. When he (Cleverley) came off against Everton he reported that it was just a bit of tightness, a bit of pain, but we’ve done further scans and he’s had a recurrence of the injury, so we’re going to have to give him a break until Christmas time, I think.

“Ashley Young is fit, he’s trained for the last seven or eight days and is available for tomorrow.”

Source ; Manutd