Manchester United news and links

Going to Munich? Please read some advice from the British Consulate.

The skilful Portuguese winger will remain a Red until at least June 2014.

Darren says Giggs’ know-how and experience will be crucial in the run-in.

Reds legend Gary Pallister says the centre-backs have a big part to play.

Former captain Ryan Giggs says he will only return for Wales’ Euro 2012 qualifying campaign if there is an emergency.

• Midfielder returns to first-team training
• United get boost for title run-in

Owen Hargreaves may play for Manchester United this season after all. Sir Alex Ferguson summoned the midfielder to train with the first team this morning, raising hopes that he may have a part to play in the title race.

Hargreaves’ career has been interrupted by severe knee problems but last week he played his first reserve game for 18 months. Another appearance for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second string had been pencilled in for tonight but Ferguson decided a return to training with the first-team squad was the better option.

“Owen won’t be playing for the reserves,” said Manchester United’s manager today. “He’s going to be training with the first team and we’ll see where that takes him.”

The 29-year-old midfield anchor has been badly missed and Ferguson evidently hopes he may yet be fit enough to reinforce United’s Premier League title challenge. “We’re keen to get Owen back involved because he’s an experienced player and will be a valuable addition for us in the run-in, when having a strong, fit squad is vital,” he said.

Hargreaves is eligible for only Premier League games as he was not registered for the Champions League knockout phase after specialists suggested he would probably not recover in time to play at such a high level this season.

Indeed the England international has said there were times during his long months of rehabilitation when he wondered whether he would be able to continue as a professional footballer.

Richard Steadman, the Colorado based surgeon, who has operated on both Hargreaves’ knees during the past 18 months, told him they were in a worse state than those of any professional footballer he had examined in 35 years.

Asked if he feared being forced into retirement, Hargreaves said recently: “It is only human to think that way. The longest injury before this was when I broke my leg at Bayern Munich and I was out for a couple of months.

“Football is a physical game and injuries are part of it. But I could never imagine having one that has impacted on me so much. I thought – everyone thought – I would be fit for the start of the season. It didn’t materialise.

“It has been a pretty humbling experience and I am sure many people doubted me but anybody who knows me knows that what I set my mind to I get.”

Under Steadman’s supervision Hargreaves has reported a vast improvement in his condition. Even so he still experiences discomfort, requires pain management and there is a chance he will never be fully clear of the problem. I wouldn’t say I am pain-free and I don’t know if I can play through it,” he said.

“But my training has improved over the last weeks and that is a very positive sign for me. I believe that it will continue to improve and progress. I am still in the process of getting some injections to try to manage the pain.”

Rochdale offer former Man Utd trainee Michael Lea the chance to kick-start his career at Spotland.

Apply for tickets now to United’s last League game of the season…

• Supporter club heading for Manchester United’s birthplace
• Plans for 5,000-capacity stadium approved by council

FC United of Manchester are set to move to the birthplace of Manchester United after announcing plans for a new ground in Newton Heath.

Manchester United were formed as Newton Heath in 1878 before joining the Football League in 1892. They changed their name 10 years later. Now the Unibond Premier League club, formed by United fans angered by the controversial Glazer takeover in 2005, have drawn up plans for a £3.5m, 5,000-capacity stadium at the Ten Acres Lane sports centre. The club’s business plan was approved by Manchester city council, which owns the site, on Monday, and will now be put to local residents and community groups.

Their general manager, Andy Walsh, told the Press Association: “We are delighted to be able to make this announcement and discussions with the council have been very positive to date. The significance of this location is historical while it will also showcase a new model of facility development, based on football supporter ownership and community involvement.”

FC United currently play their home games at Bury’s Gigg Lane ground, and top the Unibond Premier attendance tables with an average of 1,941 fans. If the new stadium gets the go-ahead it could be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

“You can’t get away from the emotion of the location but this is as much about our future as the past and we are a club laying down our roots,” Jules Spencer, an FC United board member, told Reuters. “The ironic thing is the decision [to form the club] was made at a time of United’s greatest successes, but there is a general malaise about the game not just about what the Glazers have done. We are trying to create a positive alternative for ordinary fans. We are not trying to claim the moral high ground. The vast majority of people watch their football through the television and that is something we want to change.”

Scholes led a Reds romp at Burnden Park, a week before a top-of-the-table clash.

Owen Hargreaves has been handed a boost by manager Sir Alex Ferguson after he pulled him out of the reserves to train with United’s first team.


The 29-year-old was scheduled to continue his comeback from major knee surgery with another appearance for the second string against Burnley at Accrington.

• Sir Alex Ferguson pulls him out of reserve match with Burnley
• Midfielder admits he did not know if he would ever return from injury

Manchester United’s midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been pulled out of the reserves and invited to train with the first team by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 29-year-old was scheduled to continue his comeback from major knee surgery with another appearance tonight for the second string against Burnley at Accrington.

He played his first game for 18 months in the reserves against the same opposition last week, but will not be joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

“Owen won’t play for the reserves tonight,” Ferguson told the Manchester United website. “He’s going to be training with the first team and we’ll see where that takes him.

“We’re keen to get him back involved because he’s an experienced player and will be a valuable addition for us in the run-in, when having a strong, fit squad is vital.”

Hargreaves is only eligible for the Premier League as he was not registered for the Champions League knockout phase because of uncertainty over his recovery.

And the player himself has admitted there were times during his long fight for fitness that he wondered whether he would ever play again.

“It is only human to think that way,” he said. The longest injury before that was when I broke my leg at Bayern Munich and I was out for a couple of months. Football is a physical game and injuries are part of it. But I could never imagine having one that has impacted on me so much.

“I thought – everyone thought – I would be fit for the start of the season. It didn’t materialise. It has been a pretty humbling experience and I am sure many people doubted me, but anybody who knows me, knows that what I set my mind to, I get.”

Renowned Colorado-based surgeon Dr Richard Steadman told the midfielder his knees were in a worse state than he had ever come across in 35 years of practising.

And, although Hargreaves has reported a vast improvement, he still experiences discomfort and there is a chance he will never be fully clear of the problem.

“I wouldn’t say I am pain-free and I don’t know if I can play through it,” he said. “My training has improved over the last weeks and that is a very positive sign for me. I believe that it will continue to improve and progress.

“But I am still in the process of getting some injections to try to manage the pain because if I didn’t have any I would have played at the beginning of the season.”

Thursday evening’s Reserve team trip to Burnley has been postponed.

Meet John Simm, actor and presenter of the Century of Dreams DVD, out now.

Owen’s in first-team training and Sir Alex hopes to use him in the run-in.

Bayern Munich legend says Germans fear in-form Reds’ striker.

Paul Scholes says silverware, and not history-making, floats his boat. The 35-year-old United veteran has nine Premier League title medals.


A 10th in May would mean an historic first ever fourth league championship in a row for the Reds.

Owen Hargreaves admits he played on through the pain when he shouldn’t have done during his first season at United.


The Reds’ midfielder is on the comeback trail after his 18-month injury nightmare, but has revealed he still needs painkilling injections to get him on the pitch.

Ex-Red Denis Irwin thinks Sir Alex will ring the changes for the trip to Bolton.

Everything you need to know ahead of United’s visit to the Reebok Stadium.

• Owen Hargreaves admits still experiencing discomfort
• Injury ‘has been a pretty humbling experience’

Owen Hargreaves may never be pain-free despite beginning his comeback last week. After 18 months out of action following major operations on both knees, Hargreaves finally got back on the pitch again last Thursday when he turned out for Manchester United’s reserves at Altrincham.

The 29-year-old is hoping to build on that 45-minute outing against the same opposition at Accrington tomorrow. However, it has not been an easy return for Hargreaves. The Colorado-based surgeon Dr Richard Steadman told the midfielder his knees were in a worse state than any he had come across in 35 years of practising.

Although Hargreaves has reported a vast improvement, he still experiences discomfort and there is a chance he will never be fully clear of the problem. “I wouldn’t say I am pain free and I don’t know if I can play through it,” said Hargreaves. “My training has improved over the last weeks and that is a very positive sign for me. I believe that it will continue to improve and progress.

“But I am still in the process of getting some injections to try to manage the pain because if I didn’t have any I would have played at the beginning of the season. It’s about training, getting these injections and trying to go forward.”

Despite an injury that first surfaced during his last season at Bayern Munich, Hargreaves managed 25 games during his debut Old Trafford campaign. Yet as time progressed, he knew the injury was getting worse. It was not until he placed his trust in Steadman, who salvaged the careers of Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy among others in his more regular field of cruciate ligaments, that Hargreaves realised how great the extent of the damage truly was.

“Tendons are something that a lot of people think they know about, but don’t really,” he said. “My first season at United I had the pain and was able to play through it but basically I shouldn’t have been playing. In the end, the pain was just too high and I had to have surgery.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. There were massive operations, very severe, and a lot of the treatments since have been slightly experimental. You have to try what works.”

Even now Hargreaves struggles to explain the exact nature of the problem. Far more obvious is the frustration felt by the Calgary-born midfielder, who fulfilled a childhood dream when he joined United three years ago.

“It’s difficult to describe the pain. It’s just pain,” he said. “At least the surgery did its job because before the operation my tendons obviously weren’t in the greatest condition. I would like to progress from this point even more. Hopefully I will be fit this season, and going forward I will be able to play another six, seven or eight years.”

Merely getting back out on a pitch last week represented a triumph of sorts, given that doubts can creep in about whether a return will ever happen. “It is only human to think that way,” he admitted.

“The longest injury before that was when I broke my leg at Bayern Munich and I was out for a couple of months. Football is a physical game and injuries are part of it. But I could never imagine having one that has impacted on me so much.

“I thought – everyone thought – I would be fit for the start of the season. It didn’t materialise. It has been a pretty humbling experience and I am sure many people doubted me, but anybody who knows me, knows that what I set my mind to, I get.”

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves admits he may never be pain free despite making his comeback from a long-term injury.

United have confirmed they are freezing ticket prices next season. The Glazer family have been attacked for the size of price rises since their controversial takeover in 2005 and it was claimed further increases would be implemented despite the ongoing worldwide economic problems.


However, the club have announced prices will be pegged next term, which will come as a welcome relief to supporters.

Manchester United confirms it is freezing ticket prices for the 2010/11 football season.

• Club had considered price hike to pay off interest on debts
• First time in Glazer era that prices won’t rise

Manchester United are to freeze ticket prices next season. The club had been considering whether to increase prices to help with the club’s enormous interest payments on their debt.

The Glazer family have been attacked for the size of price rises since their controversial takeover in 2005 and it was claimed further increases would be implemented despite the ongoing worldwide economic problems.

However, the club have announced prices will be pegged next term, which will come as a welcome relief to supporters.

Season tickets have gone up by an average of 48% since the Glazer family took over in 2005 and by as much as 69% in some areas of Old Trafford, much to the anger of sections of the club’s support.

United were the only club in the Premier League not to reduce or freeze season-ticket prices for the current season. Instead, the Premier League champions asked their 55,000 season-ticket holders to pay an extra £1 for each match.

Reds confirm there will be no increase in Season Ticket prices for 2010/11.

• German World Cup winner labels Rooney ‘brilliant’
• Beckenbauer also fears for Bayern’s chances against United

Wayne Rooney’s brilliant form this season could lead England all the way to victory in the World Cup final, believes Franz Beckenbauer who labelled the Manchester United striker a “brilliant player”.

“He is doing an absolutely fantastic job for Manchester United and I must tell you that we at Bayern will fear him when we play United in the Champions League quarter-finals,” Beckenbauer told Reuters. “But at the same time, he is a brilliant player who is playing better than ever. It is not easy to score 33 goals for your club in England, or anywhere else, and if he continues scoring like that and playing like that he can win the World Cup for England.

“I think they go to South Africa among the favourites along with Spain, Brazil, Argentina, because, of course, Argentina have Lionel Messi who along with Rooney is the best player in the world right now.

“They are different players because Messi is so fast and imaginative while Rooney is so strong, but Wayne has made the biggest improvement to his game. He has changed the way he plays and, at 24, has added a maturity to his game.

“Playing as the front man, he makes it so hard for defenders to mark him and he is able to use the crosses from both wings so well. I have never seen him play better and I have been watching him for a long time now.”

Beckenbauer said Rooney would be a major factor for Bayern in the Champions League quarter-final.

“We have a very difficult and busy League and Cup programme going into that tie,” he said. “Of course we would like to knock them out for revenge for losing the 1999 final but it is going to be tough, and, of course, United have Rooney. Anything is possible but first we have to stop Wayne and no-one has been able to do that very often this season.”

Bayern host United in the first leg next Tuesday, with the return leg on 7 April.

Wayne Rooney poses a major threat to Bayern Munich’s Champions League hopes, says Franz Beckenbauer.

• Midfielder believes team can win next seven matches
• Scholes highlights Old Trafford clash with Chelsea as key

Paul Scholes is convinced Manchester United can win all their remaining seven games to retain their Premier League crown.

United, chasing an unprecedented fourth successive league win, took the initiative in the title race with victory over Liverpool last weekend while Chelsea dropped points against Blackburn.

They still have to play Chelsea – who are four points behind with a game in hand – and must also face the Champions League-chasing Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, but their destiny is in their own hands.

Scholes, who has already been involved in nine title wins, told Inside United: “I’d like to think we’ve got the right players, ones who have been there before and know how tough it is to win the league.

“The game against Chelsea is going to be massive and we know we need to win that one. But that’s not the only important game. If we want to win the league we’re going to have to win every game. It’s going to be tough but I’m sure we can do it.”

Scholes is not discounting the threat of Arsenal, who are just two points behind in second, to United’s hopes.

The 35-year-old added: “You can’t rule out Arsenal, especially with the run-in they’ve got. They’ve played all the top teams twice already, so they’ll be confident of putting together a good run of results. But the bottom line is that if we win all our matches we’ll win the league.”

Bayern Munich’s star man Franck Ribery is tonight being lined up to prove he’s fit to face United in the Champions League quarter-final first leg next Tuesday.


Ribery is Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal’s key midfielder and has been absent from the German Bundesliga leader’s side for the last two matches with an ankle injury.

United commercial director Richard Arnold insists the Glazer family’s ownership is consistent with the demands made by Sir Alex Ferguson.


Arnold has just come off the back of a remarkable week, even by United’s standards, which included the announcement of three sponsorship contracts and offered further proof of how successful a new ‘territorial’ approach to commercial arrangements is being.

Wayne Rooney’s first- class personal season could cause Sir Alex Ferguson a major headache this summer.


While the United striker is on World Cup duty with England the Reds boss will be on his holidays with his mobile phone switched on waiting for reports from Old Trafford chief executive David Gill on how his transfer wish-list is progressing.

In an Inside United exclusive, Paul Scholes reveals his silverware aims.

Mirror says Gary Neville will be offered a one-year deal this summer.

Win the chance to watch the game in style

Patrice Evra says a record 19th title is the top target - and the fans agree.

MICHAEL Owen is considering extending his United career until 2012. The 30-year-old striker, who signed for the Reds last summer on a two-year deal, is out for the rest of the season with the hamstring injury he suffered in the Carling Cup final.



But the former England striker has revealed he has been offered another year on his deal.

Major new signings for Soccer Aid’s Rest of the World squad…

Michael Owen has revealed he is considering extending his career at Manchester United until 2012.

Owen, who signed last summer on a two-year deal, is out for the rest of the season after injuring a hamstring in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa.

However, the 30-year-old former England striker said he had been offered another year on his deal.

“I’m just looking to next season now,” Owen was quoted saying in the Manchester Evening News.

“I’ve got another year left on my contract here and have the option of a third as well. I’ve had a great time at United and I am really looking forward to being back next season.

“I had the operation two weeks ago so I’m going to be on crutches for six weeks now. I’m not allowed to do anything on it for six weeks, so I am definitely out for the season.”

Owen scored nine times in 34 appearances for United this season before injuring his hamstring after scoring in his team’s Wembley final victory last month.

We’re offering one lucky child the chance to be a mascot at the United v Chelsea game

MICHAEL Owen is considering extending his United career until 2012. The 30-year-old striker, who signed for the Reds last summer on a two-year deal, is out for the rest of the season with the hamstring injury he suffered in the Carling Cup final.



But the former England striker has revealed he has been offered another year on his deal.

The phrase “never go back” is often bandied about in football and, invariably, it makes good sense. Once you’ve gone you should stay gone is how the professionals view it.


But, as always, there is an exception to every rule. Mark Hughes left Barcelona in 1988 for a second career at United and, if anything, looked even better than he did in his first stint at Old Trafford.

UNITED punters and experts alike are finally realising the importance of Ji-sung Park to Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble bid. Sceptics had their suspicions in 2005 when the Korean was bought from PSV Eindhoven for £4m.


Many believed it was a ploy by Old Trafford’s hierarchy to boost the club’s profile in the Far East and to help them sell shirts in Asia.

IT has been a great few days for United in their bid to win a fourth straight title. The victory against Liverpool on Sunday and Chelsea’s draw with Blackburn was a double boost.


And the fact the Champions League draw paired our other Premier League title rivals Arsenal with the tournament favourites Barcelona is another plus for the Reds’ title hopes.

Wayne Rooney could miss Bolton trip with a niggling knee injury.

Today’s whispers don’t really consider you part of the bald community

If the Rumours had a pound for every snout who has knowingly tapped their snout and told us where David Villa is going to play next season, we wouldn’t be typing this with one hand while forcing the door shut with the other to keep the bailiffs at bay. The latest on Villa is that SOMEBODY SHOULD JUST MAKE IT STOP Valencia have decided to sell him after the World Cup for £40m and that VillMAKE IT STOPa favours a move to Chelsea. MaPLEASE MAKE IT STOPnchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid will be left disaJUST MAKE IT STOP YOU @!£%”*ppointed.

Villa’s Valencia team-mate David Silva will go to Old Trafford for £20m, a piece of gossip that excites us nowhere near as much as the prospect of sitting in a darkened room and watching this on loop.

Wigan and Sunderland both want Egyptian winger Ahmed Al-Muhammadi for £3m, or 6,000 monkeys if you’re middle-class and keeping it real. Al-Muhammadi is apparently known as the “Middle East’s David Beckham”, which we’re sure is a considered nickname based on detailed analysis of the similarities in the playing styles of the two men rather than just some lazy guff handed out because Al-Muhammadi is: a) a winger; and b) a bit glamorous.

Wigan want Al-Muhammadi to replace Charles Insomnia, who is going to Birmingham in the summer along with Celtic’s show pony Aiden McGeady and hundreds of stag and hen parties full of people who consciously or otherwise seek to define themselves by sipping alcopops and wearing silk shirts from Burton.

That bulge in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s pocket is an Ivory Coast coin (although he is also pleased to see you, ladies): Svennis will get his Côte d’Ivoire job and manage Didier Drogba and co at the World Cup. “He was not our first choice,” tubthumped the general secretary, Hegaud Ouattara . “That was Guus Hiddink. But Eriksson’s record speaks for itself.” A quarter-final defeat on penalties it is then.

David Moyes has found £650,000 in a memory box, along with a few Betamax videos and an entire Sinclair C5, and plans to spend it on João Silva, the Aves striker who is the joint top scorer in the Portuguese second division. Experts aren’t describing him as the “Portuguese Peter Whittingham“.

West Brom want to sign former West Ham centre-back Calum Davenport. Probably a bit early to make jokes about him, isn’t it.

And finally, Ashley Cole has followed his near namesake Andy’s Outstanding entry into the music industry. Apparently he collaborated with 50 Cent on a track for some crap film. “He’s a good guy, man,” said Fiddy, at which point we lost anything resembling a will to live. You can read the rest here.

On song against Liverpool, Darren’s determined to stay on top of the pile.

• Rooney did not show up with the injured at Carrington
• Striker had limped away from game against Liverpool

Wayne Rooney should be fit to lead Manchester United’s title challenge at Bolton Wanderers this weekend, despite concerns the striker suffered an injury in the defeat of Liverpool.

The England international limped away from Old Trafford on Sunday having scored his 33rd goal of a remarkable campaign in the 2-1 victory over Rafael Benítez’s team. United have not confirmed the nature of Rooney’s problem but the 24-year-old, who missed the 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers this month with a knee injury, was not among those players who reported for treatment at the club’s Carrington complex today.

Only United’s injured contingent were expected at the training ground, with the rest of the first-team squad given the day off, and Rooney’s non-appearance has eased fears that he aggravated or sustained a problem during a typically hard‑fought clash with Liverpool.

Rooney suffered inflamed tendons in a kneecap following England’s friendly against Egypt on 3 March, when his 86-minute appearance at Wembley prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to suggest the striker’s determination to play had contributed to the injury and subsequent absence at Molineux. Sunday marked the striker’s 45th game this season, with the demands of the Premier League title race, Champions League and a World Cup to come.

Michael Owen, meanwhile, has admitted he has no chance of featuring this season but remains committed to his contract despite the frustrations of his first season in Manchester.

Owen, who suffered a detached hamstring in the Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa, also revealed he has an option for a third season at United as part of his free transfer from Newcastle United last summer.

The 30-year-old said: “I had the operation two weeks ago, so I’m going to be on crutches for six weeks now. I’m not allowed to do anything on it for six weeks, so I am definitely out for the season. I’m just looking to next season now. And I’ll be back in a United jersey.

“I’ve got another year left on my contract here and have the option of a third as well. I’ve had a great time here and I am really looking forward to being back next season.”

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has stressed his side’s enthusiasm for the pressure of the Premier League title chase. “This is probably the best title run-in for years,” said the England captain. “There are three teams in it, which makes it fantastic for the fans and the neutrals to watch.”

The Blues slip further off the pace after a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

The Blues slip further off the pace after a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.