Manchester United news and links

WONDER hitman Wayne Rooney’s mini holiday has had its chips after his two-goal FA Cup cameo.

OWEN Hargreaves is set to become a United player, but the saga won’t end until the summer. United’s pursuit of Bayern Munich’s midfielder will go the 12-month distance.

SIR Alex Ferguson welcomed son Darren into the managerial fold and admitted bosses in his own image are becoming a dying breed. Thirty-three years after he branched out into the management game with East Stirling, Ferguson watched Darren follow in the family tradition by accepting the task of guiding Peterborough towards the League Two play-off zone.

VETERANS’ Day at Old Trafford was magnificently gate-crashed by a young upstart. No prizes for guessing who.

IT’S easy to see what George Burley means when he says that £10m-rated Gareth Bale should continue his education at Southampton for a little longer. The 17-year-old has been the subject of more hype than a Take That reunion concert after some impressive performances in the Championship for Burley’s side this season.

Edwin van der Sar is confident Man Utd are in pole position to win the Premiership title.

The draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday at 1330 GMT.

Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score the two goals that beat Portsmouth, the second being an utterly outrageous, delightful chip beyond David James and into the net at the Stretford End.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has admitted that Owen Hargreaves was unlikely to leave Bayern Munich this month.

No Emperor’s stare or up-turned collar completed the magnificent impersonation of Eric Cantona yet Wayne Rooney’s response to the execution of an exquisite chip and Portsmouth’s FA Cup ambition suggested a similarly talismanic effect on the remainder of Manchester United’s season.

David Gill says United won’t be signing Owen Hargreaves this month, while another target, Gareth Bale, could be off to Spurs.

Sporting Life - David Gill admits Manchester United are now unlikely to sign Owen Hargreaves this week.

David Gill admits there is little chance of Owen Hargreaves arriving by Wednesday.

Sporting Life - Rio Ferdinand has urged people not to expect too much of team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Tottenham are likely to win the race to sign Southampton defender Gareth Bale after Manchester United’s bid was rejected.

See how Rooney saw off Portsmouth in the FA Cup

Manchester United claim they will not sell Cristiano Ronaldo at any price even if Real Madrid offered around £35million.

Sporting Life - Manchester United are “extremely unlikely” to sign Henrik Larsson on a permanent deal.

Sporting Life - Manchester United have warned Real Madrid against tabling a bid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Manchester United may extend Henrik Larsson’s loan until the end of the season but are unlikely to sign him permanently.

David Gill insists it is highly unlikely Henrik Larsson will join permanently.

TeamTalk - David Gill insists it remains “extremely unlikely” that Henrik Larsson’s loan move to Manchester United will ever become a permanent deal.The 35-year-old striker has impressed boss Sir Alex Ferguson since arriving on a three-month loan deal from Swedish club Helsingborgs earlier this month.

TeamTalk - Manchester United have warned Real Madrid they would turn down a £35million bid for Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo “straight away”.Old Trafford chief executive David Gill has rubbished reports of Real’s revived interest in Ronaldo, maintaining that the Portuguese star will not be leaving Old Trafford at any price.

Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Ben Foster will edge out Paul Robinson as England’s number one.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha are expected to be back for midweek exertions.

Man Utd winger Cristiano Ronaldo is not for sale at any price, according to the club’s chief executive David Gill.

TeamTalk - Wayne Rooney kept his FA Cup “dream” alive with a superb brace to secure Manchester United’s passage into the fifth round of the FA Cup.The England striker stepped off the bench to score in the 76th and 83rd minutes in the 2-1 victory over Portsmouth.

Sporting Life - Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha are set to return for Manchester United against Charlton.

TeamTalk - Sir Alex Ferguson expects to welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha for Manchester United’s league clash with Watford on Wednesday.Both men missed Saturday’s FA Cup triumph against Portsmouth but should be available for selection against the Hornets.

No one has established whether the plane flying over Manchester United’s Carrington training ground last week was on a spying mission, but if it was, you can guarantee it was not uncovering information about Wayne Rooney. What more could be learned?

Wayne Rooney ensured Manchester United’s passage into the FA Cup fifth round when he came off the substitutes’ bench and scored twice in a 2-1 win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side against Portsmouth.

FA Cup: Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score an absolute wonder goal and dump disappointing Pompey out of the Cup.

Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Tottenham are favourites to sign Southampton’s Gareth Bale.

Sporting Life - Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded Tottenham are in pole position to sign Southampton’s Gareth Bale.

TeamTalk - Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded Tottenham are now in pole position to sign £10million-rated Southampton defender Gareth Bale.The Saints youngster has become one of the most sought-after players of the transfer window, with a host of Premiership clubs keen to secure his services.

TeamTalk - Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised the “vision and audacity” of Wayne Rooney after he carried the Reds into the FA Cup last 16.Rooney came off the bench on the hour and scored twice, the second goal a sensational chipped effort from 20 yards, as United beat Portsmouth 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson feels Spurs are in ‘pole position’ to land Southampton’s Gareth Bale.

AFP - Wayne Rooney came off the bench to send Manchester United into the last 16 of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

HERE are the Unitedplayer ratings from the FA Cup Fourth Round tie.

MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised the “vision and audacity” of Wayne Rooney after the substitute carried the Red Devils into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

WAYNE Rooney answered Manchester United’s FA Cup SOS at Old Trafford as the Red Devils overcame two horrendous moments of ill-fortune to book a place in the fifth round at Portsmouth’s expense.

TeamTalk - Wayne Rooney came off the bench to steer Manchester United into the fifth round of the FA Cup with both goals in a 2-1 win over Portsmouth.Striker Rooney was introduced on the hour and struck from close range with 13 minutes remaining to break Pompey hearts after a resilient defensive display.

Phil Bardsley would be happy to secure a long-term future at Aston Villa and insists they can still qualify for Europe.

UNITED have sent out two more of their proming youngsters to continue their footballing education in the Championship.

HARRY Redknapp admits he would love to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson and continue to manage until he is 65 as the pair prepare to meet in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford this evening.

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson has warned he is ready to axe any of his faltering defence.

TeamTalk - Sir Alex Ferguson is relishing the prospect of welcoming a lively Portsmouth contingent to Old Trafford on Saturday evening.Although Manchester United’s FA Cup fourth round meeting with the Premiership’s surprise package may not be a sell-out, a healthy contingent of travelling fans from the south coast should ensure a cracking atmosphere.

Sporting Life - Sir Alex Ferguson is relishing the prospect of welcoming a lively Portsmouth contingent to Old Trafford tonight.

Sir Alex Ferguson has renewed hostilities with Arsene Wenger by accusing the Arsenal manager of talking “absolute nonsense” after the Frenchman questioned Manchester United’s fitness levels.

Last weekend it was the title race and last night it was a feud that was rekindled between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger as the Scot accused the Arsenal manager of massaging his own ego with claims Manchester United are renowned for their lack of stamina.