Rio Ferdinand ready for Man Utd first team - Solskjaer

Rio Ferdinand is ready to play for the Manchester United first team, according to reserves boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ferdinand has been sidelined since suffering a major knee ligament injury the day after the England World Cup squad arrived in South Africa in June.

The 31-year-old United and England skipper played 45 minutes against Oldham's second string.

"Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. He is available for selection again," said Solskjaer.

In addition to missing out on the chance to captain his country at the 2010 World Cup, Ferdinand has been on the sidelines for United's opening three Premier League matches.

But Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have the centre-back at his disposal for the visit to Everton on 11 September which comes ahead of games against Rangers and Liverpool.

"Rio is always the same player," added Solskjaer. "It is a while since he has played but he was still calm.

"He has got through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him."

Ferdinand picked up the knee injury in a collision with Emile Heskey as England began training in South Africa and is eager to make up for lost time.

Solskjaer, who took Ferdinand off with the game scoreless, continued: "It was always planned that he would play 45 minutes. I am not sure he needs any more games. Rio is a naturally fit lad."

Italian striker Federico Macheda sealed a 2-1 win for United's reserves as Brazilian midfielder Anderson managed all 90 minutes as he returns from a cruciate ligament operation.

Ferdinand's comeback is too late for England's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria on Friday, 3 September and Switzerland on Tuesday, 7 September, but it will be a welcome bit of good news on the injury front for manager Fabio Capello.

Meanwhile, Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed the club have failed to reach their target of season ticket sales this summer.

In July, United were forced to take the unusual step of placing 4,000 Old Trafford season tickets on general sale, having only sold 50,000.

Gill said the number of season tickets sold was now 51,800 compared to the target of 54,000, and that executive seat sales were "on track".

The club sold 64,000 season tickets two years ago, of which 8,000 were all-important premium tickets, and only 500 fewer last season.

United's season-ticket sales have been conducted against a backdrop of a campaign by fans' group the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) urging a boycott in the hope of persuading the American owners, the Glazer family, to sell the club.

From BBC

Read more

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson praises Wayne Rooney

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson paid tribute to Wayne Rooney as he ended a five-month goal drought in Saturday's 3-0 win over West Ham.

The England striker scored from the penalty spot, his first goal since 30 March, and Ferguson was delighted to see the 24-year-old return to form.

"Strikers want to score, but it is Wayne's performance that we should be talking about," stressed Ferguson.

"He was full of life and energy. He worked his socks off."

Rooney's 13-match barren spell included dismal performances for England at this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

But having missed last week's 2-2 draw at Fulham with a virus, Rooney played his part in a comfortable Manchester United victory, scoring one goal and setting up another.

"I thought his overall game was much better, he looked a lot stronger and we look forward to him playing for England now and coming back fitter," added assistant manager Mike Phelan.

Rooney will now join up with the England squad ahead of their opening Euro 2012 qualifying games against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Nani and Berbatov were United's other goalscorers with the pair in fine form along with the evergreen Paul Scholes.

"Dimitar and Paul Scholes orchestrated that victory," added Ferguson, whose side remain in third place, level on points with Arsenal and two behind Chelsea.

"They deserved their standing ovation and Dimitar's goal was excellent.

"You have to win your home games and we are back on track after dropping those two points at Fulham last week.

"It is too early to say what formation the league is taking at present but the usual suspects are up there."

Man Utd controlled game well - Phelan

Phelan added: "Everyone talks about Dimitar and the frustrations of his game.

"But he has good parts to his game also and today he controlled the pace of the match and brought others into play, and got his reward with a goal, and that is typical Dimitar."

By contrast West Ham are winless and without a point after three games as Avram Grant's side remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League table in what has been a difficult start to the new campaign.

"We knew before it began that it would be a tough season," admitted Grant.

"We are trying to change some things but it will take more than three or five games to judge us. We need a lot more than that.

"People can say what they like about this performance but we tried our best."

Grant will now spend the next few days busily trying to bring in some more new faces, although he insists midfielder Scott Parker will remain at Upton Park beyond the 31 August deadline.

"I hope to bring another two or three players in but Scott will stay," said Grant.

"We cannot spend a lot of money and it is not going to be easy, but we will try."

From BBC

Read more

Newcastle visit Manchester United on opening day

Newly promoted Newcastle United will travel to Old Trafford on the opening day of the Premier League season to take on Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

Other notable opening day fixtures include Champions League bound Tottenham taking on their fourth place rivals of last season Manchester City and Arsenal making the journey north to play Liverpool at Anfield.

Fantasy soccer fans should keep their eyes on Wayne Rooney, Demitar Berbatov, and Nani; also on new players as Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling... We hope this players will shine and help Manchester will find a way to succeed and they have the benefit of a deep bench.

Read more

Manchester United 3-0 West Ham

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal since March as Manchester United cruised to victory to remain two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Rooney ended the longest drought of his career when he scored from the spot

Rooney converted a 33rd-minute penalty to end a 13-game drought after Jonathan Spector fouled Ryan Giggs.

Nani's cool finish from Rooney's neat pass made it 2-0 while Kieron Dyer hit the post for winless West Ham.

Dimitar Berbatov capped a fine performance by volleying past Robert Green from Nani's chipped cross.

West Ham's defeat left them rooted to the foot of the table and without a point while Manchester United remain third, level with Arsenal.

Man Utd controlled game well - Phelan

The Hammers' task was always going to be difficult, with Avram Grant's side without an away win in the league since the first game of last season.

But Manchester United, who had won 11 of their previous 12 league games at Old Trafford, started sluggishly with Rooney in particular struggling for form.

However, as the half wore on, United's veteran midfield duo of Paul Scholes and Giggs started to impose themselves on the game with Nani - who replaced Antonio Valencia in the starting line-up - also finding space on the right.

The Portuguese winger came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when his fierce 25-yard shot was palmed onto the crossbar by Green.

At the other end Dyer proved a useful outlet for the Hammers, while striker Carlton Cole was only denied a shot on goal by a last-ditch tackle from the superb Nemanja Vidic.

Dyer found the side-netting for the Hammers but Manchester United continued to press for an opening goal and just after the half-hour it came - albeit from the penalty spot.

Scholes found Giggs on the left with trademark vision, and after turning Spector inside out, the Welshman was eventually brought down by the Hammers defender.

It gave Rooney an opportunity to score for the first time since 30 March and the England striker made no mistake, finding the bottom of the net with a low penalty that sent Green the wrong way and brought to an end the longest barren spell of his career.

Soon after, Darren Fletcher saw his curling 25-yard drive superbly tipped round the post by Green as the Red Devils continued to press.

The hosts should have gone into the break 2-0 up but Nani wasted a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half-time, lifting the ball over Green but also over the bar from close range after a stunning clipped pass from Giggs.

However, Nani made amends for his miss just after the break, lashing the ball home left-footed from the edge of the area after cutting inside his marker following Rooney's weighted pass.

Rooney himself was denied by a last-ditch Danny Gabbidon tackle before a fine passing move from West Ham saw Dyer crash a fierce shot against the outside of the post.

Scholes then tested Green from the edge of the area after good link-up play from Berbatov as the game started to turn into a procession for the hosts.

United soon increased their lead and having turned provider for Scholes, it was Berbatov's turn to be on the receiving end with Nani's clipped pass to the back post acrobatically volleyed home by the Bulgarian.

Cole and Vidic continued their personal duel with the Serbian defender again coming out on top as another last-ditch tackle denied the England striker a clear sight on goal.

Hammers striker Fredric Piquionne tested keeper Edwin van der Sar late on but the Dutchman was equal to the effort as Manchester United held on to keep their second clean sheet of the season.

From BBC

Read more

Man Utd vs. West Ham

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 28 August Kick-off: 1715 BST
Coverage: Live on ESPN, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio & highlights on Match of the Day

• TEAM NEWS

Manchester United may rest Paul Scholes and draft Michael Carrick or Ryan Giggs into central midfield.

Wayne Rooney returns after missing the match with Fulham and will partner Dimitar Berbatov in attack.

West Ham are likely to opt for a five-man midfield, so striker Frederic Piquionne could give way to midfielder Radoslav Kovac.

Matthew Upson should return to the side after missing the Carling Cup game against Oxford with a facial injury.

---

Man Utd

Doubtful:

Injured: Anderson, Ferdinand & Hargreaves (all knee)

West Ham

Injured: Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee), Hitzlsperger (thigh)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Letting a lead slip twice, squandering a penalty and conceding an 89th minute equaliser against Fulham last Sunday left Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson raging, especially as his side missed out on the title last season by a solitary point.

But the Red Devils are a team that never dwells on a bad result and, on paper, West Ham seem ideal opposition as Ferguson's side look to play catch up on Chelsea's goal difference that already stands at +12.

With the Hammers porous at the back, it could also be the perfect chance for Wayne Rooney to rediscover his goalscoring form. When United played West Ham back in February, he took his tally to a staggering 27 goals in just 36 matches, but his horror run now stretches to 13 matches and 1081 minutes without a goal.

Hammers boss Avram Grant faced an insurmountable challenge when he replaced Paul Hart at crisis club Portsmouth last season, but on the evidence of West Ham's first three games of the season, he has another serious job on his hands to install faith in a team that he says carry a lot of "psychology problems."

The Hammers are already off to their worst-ever start to a Premier League season and captain Scott Parker admitted he is "dreading" the thought of Saturday's trip to Old Trafford. If that wasn't bad enough, they then face Chelsea, Stoke away and Tottenham.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Man Utd have won their last five matches against West Ham and have scored 14 goals in those games to the Hammers' one.

• The Red Devils dropped just three points from winning positions last season, which was the fewest in the top flight. West Ham on the other hand dropped 15.

• West Ham have made 15 visits to Old Trafford in the Premier League, but have won there just twice, in December 2001 and May 2007.

Man Utd

• Wayne Rooney has failed to score for club and country in 13 matches; his last goal came against Bayern Munich on 30 March. He has provided just one assist in Man Utd's last nine league matches.

• The Red Devils have won 11 of their last 12 league matches at Old Trafford, and have averaged 3.25 goals per game in that period.

• Paul Scholes made 200 passes in United's opening two games of the season, the highest in the league.

West Ham

• The Hammers are without an away win in the league since the first day of last season when they beat Wolves 2-0, a run of 19 matches.

• West Ham's last seven league victories all came at Upton Park.

• If he plays, Scott Parker will be making his 250th career league start.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd

Berbatov: 2 (1 league)

Includes goals in Community Shield

West Ham

Noble: 1 goal (1 league); Parker: 1 goal (0 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Assistant referees: Adam Watts & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Michael Jones

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (D2-2 v Fulham, a): Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia (Giggs 74), Fletcher, Scholes, Park (Nani 67), Hernandez (Owen 75), Berbatov. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Smalling, Carrick, Rafael Da Silva.

West Ham (L1-3 v Bolton, h): Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Upson (Reid 54), Ilunga, Dyer (McCarthy 77), Parker, Noble, Barrera, Piquionne, Cole (Sears 86). Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Boa Morte, Kovac.

From BBC

Read more

Rio Ferdinand close to Manchester United return

Rio Ferdinand is close to making a return for Manchester United after recovering from a knee ligament injury ahead of schedule.

The 31-year-old defender suffered the injury while training with England on 4 June and missed the World Cup.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had not expected him back until late September.

But he explained: "He won't play against West Ham [on Saturday] but we have to think when we can get a game in the next two weeks, he is that close."

Ferguson added: "Rio has trained this week. He's surprised me with his progress, it's fantastic."

Ferdinand injured his knee in a collision with team-mate Emile Heskey during England's first training session in Rustenburg as they prepared for the World Cup in South Africa.

The centre-back will miss England's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria on Friday 3 September and Switzerland on Tuesday 7 September.

But after ruling Ferdinand out until late September only seven days ago, Ferguson has been impressed by his dramatic improvement.

"Rio hadn't done anything football-wise when I spoke last week," said Ferguson.

"When he read what I said maybe it gave him a kick. But he has come in and trained this week and done fantastic. He will train with the reserves on Friday.

"Everything is fine with him. You have to be careful with ligament injuries, so we will monitor his progress but he is keen."

Ferdinand could feature in a reserve match or a friendly behind closed doors next week.

That would then put him in contention for a Premier League clash against Everton on 11 September and the following matches against Rangers and Liverpool.

From BBC

Read more

Fulham 2 - 2 Man Utd

Brede Hangeland made amends for an own goal with a late header to rescue a point for Fulham and spoil Manchester United's 100% start to the season.

Hangeland (centre right) beat Vidic and Berbatov to power home his header

Paul Scholes's 25-yard drive put United ahead but Simon Davies' 12-yard finish deservedly drew the home side level.

Hangeland diverted a corner into his own net to give the lead to United, for whom Nani saw a penalty saved by David Stockdale minutes later.

Hangeland rose to head in from a corner to give his side a share of the spoils.

It was the least Fulham deserved for their contribution to a match that had seen them denied possession for large periods but give as good as they got against in-form opponents.

The Cottagers may have changed manager since last season, but Roy Hodgson's replacement, Mark Hughes, will be pleased to see that much of what made Fulham such a tough opponent under his predecessor remains.

No better is this illustrated than in their determination and ability to battle back into the game not only once but twice, when lesser teams would have wilted, especially after such a seemingly decisive late blow as Hangeland's own goal.

That their keeper Stockdale also saved a penalty - diving to his right to palm away substitute Nani's effort after Damien Duff was adjudged to have handled in the box when the ball struck his knee and then arm - between the final two goals of the game serves only to enhance this durable quality.

Such late drama was unforeseeable after the opening 10 minutes, which the away side completely dominated and deservedly led through Scholes's superb low drive - his 150th goal during a career spent entirely with United.

Two seasons ago Scholes was sent off at Craven Cottage in a 2-0 United defeat, the first of two on the ground for the Red Devils in 2009, but he more than made up for this indiscretion with another strong performance on Sunday.

The midfielder was always available, always neat and continually central to his side's patient, progressive and polished play.

The other key figure in United's first goal - Dimitar Berbatov, who teed Scholes up - was also heavily involved throughout the game, shouldering much of the senior attacking responsibility in the absence of the ill Wayne Rooney.

An often maligned figure during his time at Old Trafford, Berbatov has been accused of not scoring often enough, and while he opened his account early this campaign with a goal in the 3-0 opening win over Newcastle, here he was wasteful.

He was presented with half a dozen goalscoring opportunities, and despite testing Stockdale with the majority of them, he should have done better.

But the same could be said of many of Fulham's attacking players.

But for greater accuracy in their own shooting, and the superb intervention of their former goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar - who rescued his current employers United by firstly blocking from Dickson Etuhu and then somehow tipped the midfielder's follow-up effort over the bar - they would have gone into the break level.

A quarter of an hour into the second half the home side were level as Duff robbed Patrice Evra and fed Bobby Zamora down the right, whose pull-back was fired home by the onrushing Davies.

Both sides continued to press for the advantage: Nani flicked the top of the net with a free-kick from the left and Nemanja Vidic headed wide from a corner for United, while Zamora miscued an effort past the far post from a tight angle after being found by Paul Konchesky's flighted free-kick.

It was no surprise that further goals came, only that they were both from the same source.

Central defender Hangeland can consider himself unlucky to see a corner ricochet off his shin and fly in after 84 minutes.

But he can be equally proud of his response at the other end, rising to head home from a corner to give his side a thoroughly warranted equaliser - made possible by Stockdale's spot-kick save.

Dropping two points, even though early in the season, is a blow to United, with reigning champions and title-rivals Chelsea having hit six goals for the second successive game on Saturday to leave them as the only side with maximum points.

From BBC

Read more