Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar set to return

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar could make his first-team return against Burnley on Saturday.

Van der Sar, 39, has not played since injuring a knee in November, an absence extended by the fact that his wife Annemarie van Kesteren has been ill.

Van Kesteren, 36, suffered a brain haemorrhage, but she has now recovered and Van der Sar spent this week in Qatar with his team-mates training.

"It is great to see Edwin back," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Edwin has come back to training and has done very well. He will give us so much experience when he eventually does come back, which is important to us.

"It depends how Edwin feels [as to whether he will play], but he has been training very well."

Ferguson also revealed that long-term injury absentees Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves made good progress in Qatar, while striker Dimitar Berbatov is hoping to go without surgery on a knee injury until the end of the season.

"We took Rio and Owen with us and they took part in some of the work we were doing," said Ferguson.

"Again, there's some light at the end of the tunnel there, particularly Rio, who is making good progress now. He won't start on Saturday, but he isn't far away, which is good news for us.

"That is the important issue for us - getting solid defenders back into the team. We need to get our consistency back.

"As for Dimitar, he doesn't want an operation. Sometimes he feels the injury, other times he doesn't.

"It might have been the warmer climes but he didn't feel it at all while we were in Qatar. We are just keeping an eye on it at present."

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Man Utd vs. Burnley

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 16 January 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

• TEAM NEWS

Manchester United could welcome back Edwin van der Sar in goal, but midfielder Darren Fletcher is suspended following his red card at Birmingham.

Nemanja Vidic, Ben Foster and Nani are all close to recovery after injuries and might be considered.

Burnley will have defenders Tyrone Mears and Stephen Jordan available again after suspension, but Steven Caldwell (groin) remains sidelined.

Clarke Carlisle is rated 50/50 and Andre Bikey is on international duty.

---

Man Utd

Suspended: Fletcher (one match)

Doubtful: Foster (back), Macheda (hamstring), Nani (foot), Vidic (nerve in leg), Van der Sar (knee)

Injured: Ferdinand (calf/back), Hargreaves (knee), O'Shea (thigh)

Burnley

Suspended: None Doubtful: Carlisle (groin)

Injured/unavailable: Bikey (Africa Cup of Nations), Caldwell (groin), McCann & Paterson (both knee), Rodriguez (ankle/foot)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Brian Laws may not have been the first name on Burnley fans' managerial wish list, but instant hero status awaits if he can inspire his new team to victory at Old Trafford.

The Clarets famously toppled Sir Alex Ferguson's champions in Turf Moor's first top-flight match in 33 years, but the delirium of five months ago has turned to dread.

Owen Coyle, the man who masterminded the club's renaissance, has defected to relegation rivals Bolton, leaving behind a side who are just two points above the drop zone and without a league win since October.

Laws, who made over 150 appearances for the Clarets as a player, is a Premier League novice and was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday only a month ago with the Owls struggling in the Championship. His first task will be to address his side's woeful away form, which is the worst in the division.

Manchester United return to action following a week of warm-weather training in Qatar, desperate to rediscover the consistency that has deserted them in recent weeks.

With only three wins in seven games in all competitions and the wounds of that FA Cup elimination to Leeds still raw, Ferguson will be looking for a result and performance to silence the critics - an ominous prospect for the Clarets.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the 120th meeting between these sides. Man Utd have won 56 to Burnley's 44, with 19 draws.

• Burnley's last away win at Old Trafford was a 5-2 victory in September 1962.

Man Utd

• United are the only team not to have dropped any points from a winning position in the Premier League this season.

• If Paul Scholes scores he will become the 18th player to score 100 goals in the Premier League.

Burnley

• Burnley are looking for their first league win in 10 games.

• The Clarets have picked up just one point from a possible 30 away from home in the Premier League, the worst record of any team.

• They have conceded at least two goals in each of their 10 Premier League away matches this season and have failed to score in the last three of those.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd

Rooney: 15 goals (14 league); Owen: 7 goals (2 league)

Burnley

S Fletcher: 9 goals (5 league); Alexander: 6 goals (5 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Probert

Assistant referees: David Richardson & Robert Madley

Fourth official: Alan Wiley

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (D1-1 v Birmingham, a): Kuszczak; Rafael Da Silva, Brown, J Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Diouf 81), Fletcher, Park (Giggs 66), Rooney. Subs not used: Amos, Neville, Owen, Anderson, Fabio Da Silva.

Burnley (L0-2 v Everton, a): Jensen; Mears, Duff, Bikey, Jordan, Alexander, Eagles, Elliott (Blake 85), McDonald, S Fletcher (Thompson 81), Nugent (Kalvenes 63). Subs not used: Penny, Gudjonsson, Edgar, Guerrero.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

Burnley 1-0 Man Utd (19 August 2009)

Burnley scorer: Blake 19.

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Manchester United rule out Ben Foster going on loan

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out sending keeper Ben Foster on loan, throwing into doubt his chances of going to the World Cup.

The 26-year-old started the season as the club's number one but is now behind Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak.

"There is absolutely no chance of loaning Ben out," said Ferguson.

"Let's hope he gets some football that gives him a chance. It's Fabio Capello's choice. Ben's qualities will put him forward as a definite choice."

But with United out of the FA Cup, the Carling Cup semi-finals against Manchester City could be the only games Foster plays during the rest of the season.

Capello had been expected to take three keepers to South Africa, with David James, Robert Green and Foster the Italian's preferred stoppers, but Joe Hart's form for Birmingham could upset that status quo.

"The World Cup is four months ahead," added Ferguson. "England are not endowed with great goalkeepers."

After playing his second consecutive game for England in Qatar in the 1-0 defeat by Brazil, Foster expressed frustration with his predicament, pointing out that while he was playing regularly for his country he had dropped out of the reckoning at Old Trafford.

"I'm third choice for United yet I'm playing for my country," said Foster.

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Gills keen to extend Brandy loan

Gillingham have asked Manchester United if they can extend the loan deal of striker Febian Brandy until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old could return from injury for Saturday's game at Swindon, which would be the last match of his current spell.

"We're trying to talk to Manchester United about retaining him," Gills boss Mark Stimson told BBC Radio Kent.

"Hopefully in the next 48 hours we'll hear something so fingers crossed."

Brandy has impressed since his arrival at Priestfield in early November, scoring twice.

He sustained a thigh injury in December which forced him to return to his parent club for treatment, but Stimson admits that if the opportunity arose he would like to make Brandy a permanent member of his squad.

"He could come permanently if they're willing to let him go or if there was a fee and we could afford it, but we'll ask about the loan situation first," said Stimson.

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Funeral for 'Busby Babe' Albert Scanlon

Crowds braved the cold to pay tribute to "Busby Babe" Albert Scanlon, whose funeral has taken place in Salford.

The former Manchester United winger, who survived the Munich air disaster, died last month. He was 74.

Former team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton led the tributes in front of about 300 mourners at the service at All Souls Church in Weaste on Wednesday.

Earlier, crowds gathered at United's Old Trafford stadium to watch the funeral cortege pass.

Sir Bobby joined other Munich survivors Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes, along with United greats Denis Law and Nobby Stiles, to pay their last respects.

He revealed that Manchester-born Scanlon befriended him when he arrived in the city from the North East, describing him as "kind and generous".

Describing him on the pitch, Sir Bobby said: "He had a gift, he had blistering pace. He was sensational when he was on song."

He said Scanlon could have played for England but after the air crash his game did not progress and he eventually retired from football.

"Albert was, without question, a Busby Babe through and through," he added.

"I always have fond memories of him, certainly the fans will remember him."

Scanlon, a boyhood Manchester City fan, made his debut for Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United first team in 1954 and was a title winner in 1956 and 1957.

He was on the ill-fated flight from Belgrade to Manchester following a European Cup match in February 1958. The aircraft crashed in Munich after refuelling.

After the crash, Scanlon was among the survivors while eight of his team-mates and 15 other passengers and crew lost their lives.

But despite suffering severe head injuries he went on to play for United the following season, scoring 16 goals.

Father Shaun Braiden told mourners the Busby Babes had made Manchester United what they are today.

He added: "We honour Albert today as a legend, because his story is that which legends are really made of, all the ingredients are present.

"For the moment a true red has come marching in, but the real saints are bidding him 'Welcome."'

The funeral service ended with the traditional football hymn, Abide with Me, before a private interment with close family and friends.

Scanlon left Old Trafford in 1960, ending a six-year association with the club.

After his departure he played for Newcastle, Mansfield and Lincoln.

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Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar resumes training

Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar returned to training on Monday for the first time since his wife suffered a brain haemorrhage last month.

Van der Sar had been given indefinite compassionate leave after Annemarie van Kesteren, 36, suffered the haemorrhage.

The 39-year-old Dutch international keeper has not played since suffering a knee injury in United's 3-0 Premier League win over Everton on 21 November.

United are currently in Doha in Qatar on a four-day training camp.

Van der Sar had been in his homeland to receive treatment from the Holland team doctor for his knee injury when his wife collapsed.

Van Kesteren has reportedly escaped suffering any permanent damage.

United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak has been Van der Sar's replacement in his absence.

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Manchester United to raise £500m

Manchester United has said it plans to raise £500m through a bond issue in order to refinance its debts.

The announcement came as the club announced pre-tax profits of £48.2m for the year to 30 June 2009, compared with a loss of £21.4m a year ago.

The profit includes the £80m fee the club received from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.

US businessman Malcolm Glazer bought the club for £790m in 2005, borrowing heavily to do so.

Group turnover rose to £278.5m from £256.2m the previous year, the club's holding company Red Football Ltd said.

There has been much speculation in recent weeks that United was considering a bond issue to address its debts.

PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS 2008/09 Man Utd: £48.2m profit Man City: £92.6m loss Chelsea: £44.4m loss

Although no total debt figure was disclosed in the results announcement, it has previously been reported as £699m.

The Old Trafford club paid £41.9m in interest on a £509.5m loan.

Without the sale of Ronaldo, United would have reported a loss of £31.8m, despite winning the English Premier League for the third year in a row, as well as the Carling Cup and the Club World Cup last season.

The team also finished runners up in the Uefa Champions League.

"What the Glazers are trying to do is to give the club a bit more financial security," said Roy Kaitcer, client director for Brewin Dolphin stockbrokers in Manchester.

Financial analysts expect the bonds to be priced at the end of next week.

The club was knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup this month, a defeat that could have cost Manchester United more than £2m should the club have gone on a run all the way to the final.

Last week, United's big-spending neighbours Manchester City reported an annual loss of £92.6m after splashing out on top-class players since new owner Sheikh Mansour bought the club in September 2008.

Current Premier League leaders Chelsea made a loss of £44.4m last year but said it was now "virtually debt-free".

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Birmingham 1 - 1 Man Utd

Manchester United missed the chance to go top of the league after salvaging a controversial draw against Birmingham.

Jerome's first-half strike was not enough for Birmingham at St Andrew's

A poor clearance from Jonny Evans allowed Cameron Jerome to smash home for the hosts just before half-time.

An own goal from Scott Dann saw the visitors hit back but only after referee Mark Clattenburg had overturned an offside decision from his assistant.

Darren Fletcher was harshly sent off for a second yellow late on but neither side was able to find a winner.

The result sees Sir Alex Ferguson's side move to within a point of leaders Chelsea, having played one more game.

But the Champions often looked brittle at the back at St Andrew's and their manager will be desperate for the return of injured duo Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Birmingham miss the chance to leapfrog Liverpool but will be content after setting a new club record of 12 games unbeaten.

Such excellent recent form has coincided with a consistency of selection by manager Alex McLeish and he named an unchanged side for the ninth successive game.

The visitors' team, however, included only four survivors from the side that lost to Leeds in the FA Cup last weekend, with the omission of Dimitar Berbatov raising the most eyebrows.

That meant Wayne Rooney was left on his own up front and reliant on willing runners from midfield.

Two of them - Fletcher and Paul Scholes - saw shots well blocked in the opening stages but the standard of play unsurprisingly took a while to heat up in a freezing stadium.

As usual it was Rooney who looked the most likely to create something.

The England striker was denied by a brave block from goalkeeper Joe Hart after being put through by Antonio Valencia and then glanced a header wide.

McLeish tries to quell Brum expectations

But Birmingham's well-organised defence stood firm, with central midfielders Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson forming a resolute shield just in front of the back four.

Dann produced another couple of valiant blocks before Liam Ridgewell threw himself in the way of a Rafael da Silva shot.

For all Birmingham's defensive qualities they looked short of ideas in the final third - but still managed to move ahead just before half-time.

A corner was half cleared by United but nodded back into the danger area by Bowyer. Jonny Evans stuck a foot out on the line but the ball deflected perfectly for Jerome to slam home.

It could have been two straight after the break when Dann's looping header fell to Chuco Benitez but the Ecuadorian's shot was straight at Tomasz Kuszczak.

Jermone then wasted a golden opportunity, ballooning over after being set free by Benitez, and saw United level in controversial circumstances.

A blocked shot from Scholes fell for Patrice Evra and his drilled effort deflected off a diving Dann and into the Birmingham net.

Man Utd satisfied with a point

The goal was initially ruled out for offside against Rooney but Clattenburg overturned the decision of his assistant and awarded it - to the anger of the Birmingham players.

United pushed forward thereafter but were unable to turn their pressure into goals, with Rooney and Valencia going close.

Fletcher was then harshly awarded a second yellow card for a trip on Jerome, having previously been cautioned for a rash challenge on Bowyer.

Birmingham more than held their own in the dying stages - including six minutes of injury time - but could not turn their pressure into a winner.

United's record of never having lost to Birmingham in the Premier League therefore remains intact but their quest for title-winning form goes on.

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Ferguson backs referee over own-goal equaliser

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted referee Mark Clattenburg was right to award Scott Dann's own goal against Birmingham.

Man Utd satisfied with a point

The goal was initially ruled out for an offside against Wayne Rooney but after consulting with his assistant, Clattenburg overturned the decision.

The controversial goal ultimately earned United a 1-1 at St Andrew's.

Ferguson said: "It's an obvious own goal and the referee had to allow it. I don't know what the linesman thought."

TV replays showed Rooney was just onside when Patrice Evra struck the initial shot that deflected off Dann.

Ferguson added: "It was clearly a own goal and the linesman flags for offside. I don't know what to say about that!"

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was less certain the goal should have stood but agreed the officials had eventually made the correct decision.

McLeish tries to quell Brum expectations

"The linesman's flagged for it and we felt that if he flagged for it then it shouldn't be given," he said.

"I thought at the time that it should have been given offside. We thought Rooney interfered with the guy who put it in the net.

"But he looked onside on the replay so they've ultimately reached the right decision but in the wrong way!"

Ferguson was also unhappy at Clattenburg's decision to send off Darren Fletcher at St Andrew's.

The midfielder was cautioned in the first half for a rash challenge on Lee Bowyer but the foul on Cameron Jerome that earned him a second yellow looked less clear-cut.

"Darren's not that type of player," Ferguson said.

"I thought it was a terribly soft sending-off, he's barely clipped him.

"The boy was already falling. I don't think you'll see a softer sending off than that."

Dimitar Berbatov was left out of the United match-day squad before the game, prompting speculation that he been dropped.

But Ferguson revealed an injury had stopped the Bulgarian from featuring.

He added: "Berbatov's been carrying an injury. He's wanted to play with it but we felt just that we should try and get it sorted and get him fit again.

"He may have to have an exploratory operation."

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