Patience will be rewarded

Sir Alex Ferguson has told the squad's fringe players not to get disheartened by a lack of games, insisting their patience will be rewarded.

Competition for places is fierce within a United squad further bolstered by the signings of Owen Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Carlos Tevez.

Although the departures of Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinze, Kieran Richardson and Giuseppe Rossi, plus the retirement of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, have reduced numbers slightly, Sir Alex remains spoilt for choice for his starting eleven when everyone is fit.

The United boss maintains that every player will be given their chance to shine this season and is confident they will reap their rewards by remaining patient.

"We have to have players here who understand the dynamics of the operation of the club. When we’re going for everything, some of them will have to be patient. They’re going to get chances, and play games, and in those matches they can be important players," he told Inside United Magazine.

"It’s a challenge for me and the staff to make sure we’re being fair and picking the right team. It’s also a challenge for the players to show loyalty to us, and if they don’t think that we’re being fair, then they have every right to come and see me. The door is always open.

"Look at players like Phil Neville and Nicky Butt. For three or four years they weren’t regular starters, but they loved the club, they were patient and prepared to accept that they wouldn’t play every game, but they always got 20-odd games a season. You can’t do it forever, and you have to be fair to them, and let them move on when they want to.

"I mean, Nicky and Phil can sit back and think: “I’ve got eight or nine medals from my time there, which is a fantastic achievement."

"Nicky played in the European Cup final, mainly because of the suspensions of Keane and Scholes. Phil played in the 1996 FA Cup final against Liverpool, Gary didn’t make that one, he was on the subs’ bench. Those are great rewards for being patient."

Sir Alex also has an abundance of young talent on which to call upon following the return of a number of the players from loan spells.

"I think we’ve got a terrific bunch with Dong, Campbell, Martin, Gibson, Eagles – who has come on unbelievably well – Pique, Evans, Simpson… they’re all excellent," said the boss.

"The hardest thing will be to manage the situation, but we have plans that’ll ensure they get enough football." Read more...

Now Sir Alex seeks Barca starlet

Sir Alex Ferguson is targeting Barcelona's Giovani Dos Santos. The United boss, who has already signed Portuguese star Nani and Brazilian Anderson, is also looking to bring in 18-year-old Mexican Dos Santos. Barca are looking to tie him to a longer contract which would increase his £20m buy-out clause. But reports in the Daily Mirror suggest that Dos Santos' performances have attracted interest across Europe and he has switched agents to Jorge Mendes who also looks after Chelsea boss Jose Mouirino and has already dealt with United before. Barcelona sporting director Tixiki Berguristain said: "It's normal for a player of his talent to receive interest from other clubs. But I'm calm and confident he will sign a new contract here."
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Heaton ready and willing

Tom Heaton insists he is ready and willing should he be called upon to keep goal for the Reds this season.

The 21-year-old Reserves stopper has made the bench on a handful of occasions over the last year or so, but is yet to make a competitive first team appearance for the Reds.

A long term injury to Ben Foster has pushed Heaton up the goalkeeping pecking order and he remains hopeful of making his mark in the first team during the coming campaign.

"As a goalkeeper you have to be patient, everyone keeps telling me that anyway!" he told Inside United. "It can be difficult at times because once you’ve had a taste of things all you want to do is play.

"Ideally I would have liked to have gone out on loan to get some more experience, but the situation with Ben [Foster] being injured has given me a chance with the first team which is fantastic.

"It’s a pleasure to be working with the first team and I’m just focused on keeping my head down and working hard."

Heaton was part of the Reds' squad which toured Asia in July and was handed his chance in the team's final match in China.

"Travelling with the team to Asia was a fantastic experience for me personally and I think we’ve all benefited from the training we did out there," he insisted. "I managed to get 45 minutes under my belt in the final game of the tour which was pleasing.

"I want to improve all aspects of my game," he added. "Training with the first team is a big factor because it brings you on leaps and bounds.

"We’ll just have to see what comes up for me this season - hopefully I might get an opportunity somewhere along the line." Read more...

Simpson agrees new deal

Reds' defender Danny Simpson has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2010.

The 20-year-old, who joined in July 2003, spent last season out on loan, gaining significent first team experience along the way.

After a successful four-month spell at Royal Antwerp at the start of the 2006/07 campaign, Simpson was snapped up by Sunderland boss Roy Keane for the remainder of the season.

Simpson, along with fellow United loanee Jonny Evans, became an integral part of the Black Cats defence as Keane's side clinched promotion to the Premier League.

Simpson is now a fully fledged member of United's first team squad following some impressive displays in pre-season. Read more...

Ronaldinho's list of the world's five best players

Cristiano Ronaldo was the only Premier League representative on Ronaldinho's list of the world's five best players. "I love to watch Cristiano go one-to-one against a player because he confuses defenders," Ronaldinho told FourFourTwo magazine. "Cristiano is more of a team player now. He is less selfish but still provides moments of skill which can change a game." Read more...