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

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

Owen sidelined for six weeks

14/11/2011 18:00, Report by Nick Coppack

Michael Owen is expected to be sidelined until at least Christmas with the thigh injury he sustained in United’s recent 2-0 home win against Otelul Galati.

The Reds no.7 lasted just 10 minutes against the Romanians after straining his left thigh in the build-up to United’s opening goal when Owen darted towards the near post and stretched for Phil Jones’ cross. While he failed to make contact with the ball, Owen’s movement dragged defenders out of position and, as Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards, “made the goal” for Antonio Valencia, who arrived behind the striker to tap into the empty net.

The boss was initially hopeful Owen’s knock would not prove serious, but a club spokesman told ManUtd.com on Monday: “Michael has a thigh muscle injury and will be out for six weeks or so.”

That prognosis means the striker isn’t likely to feature for the Reds until Boxing Day at the earliest, when United welcome Wigan Athletic to Old Trafford. Sir Alex’s men are also scheduled to host Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Eve, with United’s first game of 2012 due to take place at Newcastle on Wednesday 4 January.

source : Manutd