Safety in numbers for Reds

United have no new injury worries ahead of Saturday's trip to face West Ham, but Sir Alex Ferguson is taking an enlarged squad to Upton Park in preparation for all eventualities.

At a time of year where sudden sickness is rife, the United manager is taking no risks as his side look for a sixth successive Premier League victory.

"We're taking a big squad down tomorrow for the game with West Ham," Sir Alex told his pre-match press conference. "We're taking 20 players down, keeping them all together because you never know at this time of year.

"Utilising the squad is important. We freshened up the other day by leaving Ryan, Tevez and Anderson out (against Sunderland). Tomorrow we'll make some more changes. Hopefully that brings the right freshness and gets us the right result.

"The confidence as a team is good, the form is good so we're going into the game in the right frame of mind. It's never easy at West Ham, of course. They beat us twice last season so we expect a tough game but in the form we're in we're looking forward to it."

Owen Hargreaves will be among the travelling party for Saturday's match, but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has not recovered in time to feature.

"Edwin is not fit for tomorrow, he's still out but Tomasz is doing very well," Sir Alex revealed. "He starts training tomorrow and he could be back for Birmingham." Read more...

We're Still Grateful

Carlos Tevez will get the freedom of Upton Park tomorrow - even if he sticks the boot in on West Ham’s home misery. The Manchester United striker returns to the Boleyn for the first time since launching his one-man survival campaign for the Hammers last season. Now Hammers defender Matthew Upson is certain Tevez, who moved to Old Trafford in the summer, will get the welcome he deserves from grateful Upton Park fans. Upson said: “You are talking about something that does not happen very often. He really did single-handedly turn things around last season. Carlos will get a fantastic reception. All our fans respect him for what he did and he will be welcomed back for the rest of his life, to be honest."
Pat Sheehan, The Sun Read more...