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

Hernandez nets for Mexico

12/11/2011 11:54, Report by Adam Marshall

Fixtures

Thursday 10 November
Gabon v Brazil

Friday 11 November
Cyprus v Scotland
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Portugal
Denmark v Sweden
Estonia v Rep. of Ireland
Mexico v Serbia
Paraguay v Ecuador
Guinea v Senegal

Senior internationals only

Javier Hernandez led the Reds in international action by getting on the scoresheet for Mexico in their 2-0 win against Serbia.

The scoreline flattered the Mexicans and the United striker was given a rough ride by defenders Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksander Kolarov. Chicharito was an inch away from supplying a touch to Carlos Salcido's cross that found the net anyway for an early opener.

After City's Kolarov was sent off for another foul on the striker, pushing him inside the box, there was a flare-up involving Hernandez as he was jostled by the bruising opponents. When the fuss died down, the unflappable hitman calmly scored from the spot with two minutes remaining.

In the Euro 2012 play-offs, Republic of Ireland have one foot in the Euro 2012 finals after an emphatic 4-0 triumph away to Estonia. Darron Gibson didn't make the bench but both he and Under-21 starlet Robbie Brady will hope to be in the squad for next summer's finals in Ukraine and Poland, providing Giovanni Trapattoni's men complete the job in Dublin.

Nani won his 50th cap for Portugal in a 0-0 draw away to Bosnia-Herzegovina that keeps things on a knife-edge going into the second leg on Tuesday.

Antonio Valencia earned praise from the local media for his performance but Ecuador slipped to a 2-1 reverse in Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier. The midfielder was reportedly "outstanding" and the "engine" of his team and helped set up the Tri's late goal.

On the friendly front, Darren Fletcher captained Scotland to a 2-1 success in Cyprus, although he was substituted after 63 minutes in Larnaca.

Anders Lindegaard didn't see in any action in Denmark's 2-0 friendly win over Sweden but Mame Biram Diouf scored the fourth goal for Senegal in their 4-1 crushing of Guinea. Fabio came off at half-time in Brazil's 2-0 victory over Gabon on Friday.

source : Manutd

Reds go globetrotting

07/11/2011 08:49, Report by Nick Coppack

Fixtures

Thursday 10 November
Gabon v Brazil

Friday 11 November
Cyprus v Scotland
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Portugal
Denmark v Sweden
Estonia v Rep. of Ireland
Mexico v Serbia
Paraguay v Ecuador

Saturday 12 November
England v Spain

Monday 14 November
Brazil v Egypt

Tuesday 15 November
Denmark v Finland
Rep. of Ireland v Estonia
England v Sweden
Portugal v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Ecuador v Peru

Senior internationals only

United may not play again until Saturday 19 November, but more than a dozen Reds will be in action for their countries during the international break.

Nani and Darren Gibson both have crunch two-legged Euro 2012 play-off ties to negotiate. Portugal meet Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Gibson's Republic of Ireland face Estonia for a spot at next summer's tournament.

Antonio Valencia also has some serious business to attend to. He's travelled to South America to spearhead Ecuador's World Cup 2014 qualifying charge, as La Tri take on Paraguay (away) and then Peru (home).

Everybody else involved in senior internationals - Fabio (Brazil), Anders Lindegaard (Denmark), Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck (England), Javier Hernandez (Mexico) and Darren Fletcher (Scotland) - will participate in friendlies.

Of those, Fabio faces the longest trek, travelling with Brazil to Gabon in West Africa and then Qatar in the Middle East. Hernandez will return to his native Mexico to welcome a Nemanja Vidic-less Serbia (the defender recently announced his retirement from international football), Anders Lindegaard will hope for a spot between the sticks when Sweden and Finland come to Copenhagen and Darren Fletcher is expected to lead out Scotland in Cyprus.

Wayne Rooney (rested), Ashley Young  (injured) and Rio Ferdinand have been left out of Fabio Capello's England squad, so youngsters Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones are United's only representatives for the Three Lions' games against Spain and Sweden at Wembley.

Goalkeeper David De Gea won't be with Spain's senior team in London, but he will play for the Under-21 side in Euro 2013 qualifiers against Estonia and Switzerland. Fellow Reds stopper Ben Amos will also turn out at that level for England in games against Iceland and Belgium, as Stuart Pearce's side bid to reach the 2013 tournament. Oliver Norwood, currently on loan at Scunthorpe, is also expected to receive an Under-21s call-up for Northern Ireland's qualifer against Serbia.

Sam Johnstone, Ravel Morrison, Will Keane and Larnell Cole are all on duty with England Under-19s.

More info on other players' whereabouts to follow.

source : manutd