Manchester United news and links

Find out when and where United’s second string will be playing this term.

Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher reckons Manchester United midfield maestro Paul Scholes has never received the credit he deserves.

Our new video series kicks off with five stunning pre-season goals.

Fans around the world can now connect with United through Facebook.

Read a selection of fans’ comments on United’s up-and-coming talent.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping for better fortune for Manchester United’s newest South American hitman Javier Hernandez.

Look out, Chelsea. Giggs is determined to win back the league title.

Take a look at the players being put through their paces in Chicago.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has indicated he could prolong his career beyond 2011.

United fitness coach Tony Strudwick is in his element on the American tour.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes leaves the door open to continuing his playing career beyond next season.

United could face Newcastle on 16 August without six World Cup players.

United legend would be happy to see Sir Alex add to the squad.

• ‘I do not know if it will be my last season’
• Player will review things at end of next campaign

Paul Scholes has indicated that he could play on beyond next season. The Manchester United midfielder has been expected to call it a day at the end of the 2010-11 campaign after signing a one-year contract extension in April.

“I do not know if it will be my last season,” the 35-year-old said. “I will just take every game as it comes. If I am feeling OK and doing the job that the manager wants me to do then we will see how things are at the end of next season. Hopefully next season will be another good one for me.”

Scholes and Ryan Giggs are the senior players training in Chicago ahead of their club’s five-match summer tour. The temperature is expected to reach 33C today but, according to Scholes, United will reap the benefits later.

“Pre-season is always a busy time of the year for us because we’re focused on getting set for the start of the season,” he told the club’s official website. “We are doing lots of training in very hot conditions but hopefully that will stand us in a good stead for when the season begins. As far as next season goes we want to get back on track. Hopefully we’ll have better luck with injuries and win some more trophies.”

• Internazionale striker linked with Manchester United and City
• Balotelli would be better suited here, says Chelsea coach

The Chelsea coach, Carlo Ancelotti, believes the Premier League would bring out the best in Mario Balotelli.

The Internazionale striker has been linked with Manchester United and Manchester City. When asked if the 19-year-old would be a good fit for Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad, Ancelotti told Sky Sport 24: “It’s a team that has a great tradition and brings out the characteristics of this type of player.”

Balotelli scored nine goals in 26 league appearances for Inter this season but was not a regular starter in the treble-winning side. Ancelotti feels he could be a more prominent figure in a Premier League side.

“Here the atmosphere is different,” said the Chelsea coach. “I think a player with this type of character would be better suited here than with respect to Italy.

“It’s difficult to find a young player with this quality. Even England struggles to find a player at this level.”

When asked if he would like to coach Balotelli, Ancelotti said: “Yes.”

Balotelli is under contract with Inter for another three seasons.

United midfielder insists he doesn’t know when he’ll retire.

Manchester United and England footballer Michael Owen said it was “beyond his wildest dreams” to see two of his horses win at Uttoxeter on Wednesday.

• United had six players in South Africa for World Cup
• Sir Alex Ferguson: ‘Maybe one or two’ to play first game

Sir Alex Ferguson admits the majority of Manchester United’s World Cup stars are unlikely to feature in the club’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United next month.

England’s Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, the France and South Korea captains Patrice Evra and Park Ji-sung, Serbia’s defender Nemanja Vidic and the club’s new signing, Javier Hernández of Mexico, were United’s six representatives in South Africa.

Rio Ferdinand is hopeful of being fit for the start of the season after injury prevented him captaining England, while Nani was in the squad which flew out for a pre-season tour of America after being ruled out of Portugal’s campaign.

Owen Hargreaves’s long-term knee troubles meant he never entered Fabio Capello’s thoughts and a fresh setback will see him miss the resumption.

With regards to those who did play, though, Ferguson will bide his time over assessing them ahead of the Newcastle game. None of them was on the plane when United flew out for their pre-season tour of America, although Hernández will link up with the squad on 27 July, in time to face his former club Chivas three days later.

After a training camp in Chicago, United will take on Celtic, Philadelphia Union, Kansas City Wizards and the MLS All-Stars before the match against Chivas and their return to England for the Community Shield against the double winners Chelsea.

And Ferguson told Sky Sports News: “Even the [Community] Shield does not come on to the agenda as a need-to-win game, it’s being used as the final part of preparation. That’s on 8 August, then there are internationals during that week, and we have the first game the following Monday against Newcastle.

“In that time, after we’ve surveyed the fitness of the ones who’ve been at the World Cup because they don’t come back until 28 July, we’ll really know if any of them or all of them should play in the opening game. I have the feeling we’ll probably not play them all but maybe one or two will play in it.”

Debate: Which of United’s youngsters do you expect big things from this term?

Sir Alex Ferguson admits the majority of Manchester United’s World Cup stars are unlikely to feature in the club’s Barclays Premier League opener against Newcastle next month.

United’s players are excited by new arrivals Smalling and Hernandez.

See what the Theatre of Dreams has to offer…

It was spot the World Cup winner of the future at Curzon Ashton on Monday night.

Denis Irwin feels Tour 2010 will be a good test for United’s young players.

Darren Fletcher believes Manchester United have the perfect environment for their summer tour.

United and City are reportedly racing to sign Inter’s Mario Balotelli.

This is an exclusive look at Manchester United’s 2010-2011 kit - two days before its official launch in America.

Ole and Warren’s boys comfortably win the Jack Crompton trophy.

Chris Smalling will grow at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson’s guidance, according to Bill Williams.

One of England’s World Cup destroyers is a reported target for United.

Wes Brown believes Manchester United must hit the ground running at the start of the new season if they are to to have success at home and abroad.

Mario Balotelli’s agent insists Manchester United are still in the race to sign the Inter Milan striker.

Thank goodness the World Cup’s over, says Ben Hibbs. Let the real football start.

Manchester United crank up their pre-season with a trip to the US and Canada as they look to regain the Premier League title Chelsea won last year. Check out the details here.

United’s pre-season trip is a big operation for kit manager Albert Morgan.

Fletcher endorses United’s pre-season plans as the Reds head to America.

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is on Sunderland boss Steve Bruce’s wanted list.

Reds’ assistant manager Mike Phelan expects a productive pre-season trip.

Latest updates include videos and pics from the kit launch in Chicago.

The Mail claims top stars are turning their noses up at the English league.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has not made a bid for Wesley Sneijder.

• I don’t know where reports come from, says Sir Alex Ferguson
• Manchester United will be stronger next season, manager says

Sir Alex Ferguson has denied making a bid for Wesley Sneijder, the Holland and Internazionale midfielder, and believes Manchester United will be better equipped to win major trophies next season even if he is inactive in the transfer market.

“I believe the squad is stronger than last season with the younger players having another year under their belts,” United’s manager said in the Mail on Sunday. “I don’t know where those reports about Sneijder came from. How can anybody turn me down when I haven’t even made a bid?”

Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, said on Wednesday he had no plans to sell Sneijder while confirming the club had received an approach from Manchester United for the 26-year-old.

Ferguson also denied that he had made overtures to the Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, who played a central role in the defeat of England in their World Cup second-round game.

Betfair are tipping Spain to beat Holland and rule the world.

• Neville suffers small tear to calf muscle in training
• Captain to remain at home to undergo treatment

Gary Neville has been ruled out of Manchester United’s summer tour because of a calf injury.

The 35-year-old defender will remain at Carrington for treatment on his calf problem when the squad leave on Monday for Chicago, in the hope he will be fit for the start of the season.

United’s captain recovered strongly last season after injuries had curtailed his involvement in previous seasons and was handed a one-year extension to his contract. United say he suffered a minor setback in training with a small tear to his calf muscle.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes it will be more beneficial for Neville to remain at home than make the trip.

With Neville’s fellow defender Rio Ferdinand also injured, veteran midfielders Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will lead the 22-man party on the four-match tour beginning against Celtic in Toronto next Friday.

Edwin van der Sar, Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov will also travel, along with some promising youngsters including former Fulham defender Chris Smalling. Nani is also included after making a quick recovery from a broken collarbone which caused him to pull out of the World Cup for Portugal.

MUTV and MUTV Online have got it covered when it comes to live games.

Hernandez stays on course to play for United against Chivas on 30 July.

A 22-man squad will fly to America on Monday for the pre-season tour.

Get your goods delivered free of charge this weekend

Check out exclusive pictures of the lads in training at Carrington this week.

• Ferguson prepares to tour US with Manchester United
• ‘They’re all fit, athletic, they’ve got a good feel for the pitch’

Sir Alex Ferguson believes football is finally beginning to take hold in the United States. The Manchester United manager expects a competitive edge to their matches on the tour – the squad leave on Monday for their training base in Chicago.

The national side held England to a draw in the World Cup and Ferguson is convinced the standard of Major League Soccer is better than ever. “American soccer is starting to make an impact and it is so improved, ” he said.

“I made that point about the United States team before the World Cup. I said they were going to play like real athletes – the guys are fit, committed, they believe in themselves.

“I think American football is that way – they’re all fit, athletic, they’ve got a good feel for the pitch. You can see that there is improvement in MLS. I have spoken to many people in the last few months about that and there is a big upsurge.”

The veteran trio Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes will lead the party on the four-match tour beginning against Celtic in Toronto next Friday.

Edwin van der Sar, Darren Fletcher and Dimitar Berbatov will also travel along with some promising youngsters, including the former Fulham defender Chris Smalling.

Ferguson added on the MLS website: “Winning is part of what we have to do here, but the main object is to get everyone game time, come back ready, fit to start the season.”

United meet Philadelphia Union at Lincoln Financial Field on 21 July, followed by a match against the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium four days later. They finish the tour against the MLS All-Stars in Houston on 28 July.