Manchester United news and links

The Observer: The globalisation of the national game will increase the danger of freezing out the loyal fanbase, says Phil French

JOHN O’Shea is close to putting pen to paper on a new four-year deal at Manchester United.

ENGLAND have received a further boost ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Croatia - with the news that Owen Hargreaves is available.

SCOTLAND’S Alan Hutton has emerged as a target for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

GARY Neville says getting back into the Manchester United side is a bigger priority than England.

MARK Hughes is the bookies’ favourite to take over at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson finally decides to call time on his glorious managerial career.

Zaragoza knew he wouldn’t sign

Manager Phil Brown is very happy with him

We have as good a squad as anyone for them to learn from

Who doesn’t?

New signings have improved us

Ronaldo was delighted with Sir Alex’s glowing assessment of the Reds.

WAYNE Rooney will see England’s Euro 2008 fate unfold on TV desperately hoping for a similar outcome to the last time he watched a major match on the box.

SIR Alex Ferguson certainly got pub debates and website forums going when he declared this week that he felt his current United squad is the strongest he has had.

ROBBIE Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink beware - Aaron Burns is after your jobs!

SPANISH youngster Gerard Pique is getting his reward for sticking with United and plans to battle hard for a first-team place.

OLD England warrior Nobby Stiles blasted the gloom surrounding the national team’s fortunes and declared: “We can still qualify - and win it!”

UNITED youngster Fraizer Campbell is putting the smile on the faces of the Tigers.

Foster looks to February

Behave yourself Wayne

Fletcher, Anderson and Carrick

Platini concerned with American ownership

It’s a good view from the bench

Hargreaves not travelling with England

Experience will let him grow.

Man Utd keeper Ben Foster has given up on playing for the club this season as he recovers from a serious knee injury.

Wayne has his sights on a glorious double, and picks his 5-a-side dream team.

Reds boss Sir Alex mourns the loss of Busby Babe John Doherty.

Gerard Pique is keen to repay Sir Alex’s faith in the defender.

HAT-TRICK man Aaron Burns turned up the heat on leaders Curzon Ashton after tantalising supporters with a hint that he may stay beyond January.The former United reserve ace is meant to be at the club until the transfer window, when his registration - held by Cardiff - can be transferred and he is expected to be picked up by a league club.

FOOTBALL Legends will descend on Old Trafford tonight to honour the latest inductees into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame.

UNITED reserve keeper Tom Heaton has suffered as a result of the knock-on effect from Ben Foster’s injury.

BEN Foster is stepping up his recovery programme and on the ladder back to fitness - literally.

MICHAEL Carrick has urged Sir Alex Ferguson to make a January swoop for Dimitar Berbatov.

Owen Hargreaves has been ruled out of England’s friendly against Austria.

Louis Saha says the injured Mikael Silvestre is making good progress.

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves is ruled out of England’s friendly in Austria on Friday with a knee injury.

Downing Street back quota plan

It certainly has got a lot of people talking.

Brown expected to sign another contract in the enxt month or so.

Ferguson says that this team has got a lot to do just yet.

Tottenham striker would be good at United apparently.

He promotes his DVD - ‘The Boy Who Had A Dream’

Busby Babe passes away aged 72.

United reported to be battling with Liverpool for the Argentinian’s signature.

Arsewipe says the abuse he has suffered at Old Trafford is worse than what Ferguson endured last week.

Ferguson and Giggs scorn Arsenal’s equaliser celebrations last week.

Former Manchester United Busby Babe John Doherty dies at the age of 72.

DARREN Fletcher has revealed that United’s red-hot forward line has been given a free rein by manager Sir Alex Ferguson to seek out goals.

KARL Marginson is predicting a thrilling finish to the UniBond first division north title race as his side gear up for Rossendale United’s visit to Gigg Lane tonight (7.45pm).