Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will travel to Goodison Park for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League fixture against Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will travel to Goodison Park for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League fixture against Everton.

The 21-year-old, who has been out since fracturing his foot against Reading on the opening day of the season, has been training well for the Reds this week, according to Sir Alex. He is in the squad to face his former club, but the manager admitted he is unsure how Rooney will be used, if at all, against his former club.

"Rooney has trained very well," the Reds boss told reporters on Friday. "He'll travel with us to Goodison, but whether I start him, put him on the bench or leave him out until Wednesday, that's something I have to decide."

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the manager also confirmed that Louis Saha is ready for action after completing 45 minutes against Sunderland earlier this month, while the Reds are boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo's return from a three-match suspension.

Owen Hargreaves, who missed both of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers this week with a thigh strain, trained on Friday morning but remains doubtful for the Reds' trip to Merseyside.

"There's not a lot wrong with Owen," added the boss. "He trained well today (Friday). But I don't know whether we'll risk that against Everton. It's more likely he'll play in Lisbon on Wednesday."

The news isn't quite so good for Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea, who were both injured on Wednesday night playing for their countries. Fletcher limped off against France and could be out for six weeks, while O'Shea appeared to pick up a knee injury in the Republic Of Ireland's loss to the Czech Republic and also faces a couple of weeks on the sideline. Read more...

Sir Alex glad Ronaldo is back

Sir Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo could make a big difference to United’s attacking potency as the Portuguese winger returns from a three-match suspension this weekend.

The 22-year-old hasn’t played for the Reds since being shown a red card against Portsmouth on 15 August.

Despite 1-0 victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, United have not looked as threatening in front of goal as at the start of last season, most likely due to the absence of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Both could play against Everton on Saturday, and Ronaldo is being tipped by Sir Alex to inject impetus to the team’s forward play.

“Without question, Cristiano’s return is a big plus for us,” said the boss. “You miss players that make a difference, create opportunities, score goals and change the pattern of games.

“With Ronaldo back that gives us some better attacking options than we have had in the last three games.”

Sir Alex says that Ronaldo may have to deal with the kind of provocation that led to his sending off against Portsmouth, which the United boss still feels was unjust, but is confident the winger has the temperament and attitude to cope.

“That’s a possibility [that players could try to provoke him],” he added. “I think that some players might try to do that. But that’s up to Ronaldo to control himself, to know what a good player he is. He knows that he’s only helping them by reacting to it. Also, you look for a strong referee that can sense the mood of the game.” Read more...

Ronaldo: Hate made me

Cristiano Ronaldo says becoming a hate figure has been the making of him. The Manchester United and Portugal star was public enemy No 1 in this country after his part in Wayne Rooney’s World Cup red card last year. Ronaldo said: “After the match I was criticised and whistled at. It was not very pleasant but it did me some good. With this I grew wiser and it helped me to mature."
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...

Sir Bobby rooting for Ryan

Sir Bobby Charlton is counting down the games until Ryan Giggs passes his longstanding United appearance record.

The United legend is already preparing to honour the Welsh winger, despite Giggs still needing another 39 appearances to overtake Charlton.

"I would love it if Ryan got the record," said Sir Bobby, at a promotion for his new autobiography: 'My Manchester United Years'.

"It would be so fitting and I would be pleased to have the opportunity to go onto the pitch and present him with something. In fact, if they didn't ask me, I would pester them until they did.

"When I finished I could not believe anyone would play more games than that. I did so much running for so many years, I just didn't think it would be possible.

"But Ryan is almost there now. To physically put your body through what he has is very difficult and that is why I am so delighted for him."

Sir Bobby, who made 759 appearance for United, can still remember his first sighting of Giggs, on his way to meet Sir Alex Ferguson at United's Littleton Road training ground.

"I set off for Pitch 11, where Alex was, and got about halfway there when I saw this little lad pick up the ball, beat about four men and then shoot," he recalled.

"The goalkeeper made a great save but I could not get up to see Alex quick enough. I asked him who it was and it turned out to be Ryan. He had just been signed that morning from under the noses of Manchester City. I just thought 'that will do me'.

"I could never have imagined he would play so many times. Football is just so non-stop in England. It is all about pace now. But if that little lad has run as much as I did, he has been some player."

Read more...

Saha can be King Louis

Gary Neville has tipped Louis Saha to be King of Old Trafford – if he can stay clear of injury. Neville insisted: "Louis is different to anyone else we have at the club. He can be unplayable." Saha prepares to start his first match since February 27 at Everton on Saturday. Neville, out since March, stressed what a key player Saha is when 100 per cent fit. He said: "We could see what a difference he made when he came on against Sunderland. "If he can stay clear of injuries then we have a great centre-forward on our hands."
Bill Thornton, Daily Star Read more...