Alex Ferguson tips Owen Hargreaves for league return

Sir Alex Ferguson says Owen Hargreaves may still play in the latter stages of this season's Premier League campaign despite long-term tendinitis problems.

The United boss was forced to leave the midfielder out of Manchester United's squad for the Champions League.

But he said: "Owen will be back. He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefully he does.

"There are more games in the league than in the European Cup and I don't need to register him for the league."

Hargreaves has not played since September 2008, when he finally decided to undergo revolutionary knee surgery in the United States to seek an end to his long spells out of the game with tendinitis, which date back to his time at Bayern Munich.

The 29-year-old eventually returned to United's Carrington training base 12 months later after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation programme under the guidance of world renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman.

At the time, it was thought Hargreaves would be back in action by November to help United's quest for honours and push for a place in Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad. But that deadline was missed and so have others Ferguson subsequently put in place.

Knowing there was no chance of Hargreaves being fit for the Champions League knockout round tie with AC Milan later this month, Ferguson opted to leave the player out of his 25-man squad for the latter stages of the tournament.

Ferguson added: "Owen's recovery is slow. It is a year-and-a-half now and I can't put a time on it."

With plans already being shaped for the big clash against AC Milan later on February 16, Ferguson has opted to pick young Belgian defender Ritchie de Laet instead in a 25-man squad.

"I had to choose and it was a hard decision, but it is the correct decision," he said.

Striker Mame Biram Diouf is also in the squad but Danny Welbeck has been removed after joining Preston on loan until the end of the season.

Capello said in December that Hargreaves could still be included in his squad for the 2010 World Cup - but that now appears a remote possibility. Hargreaves was named England's player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

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Man Utd vs. Portsmouth

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 6 February 2009 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 defender Nemanja Vidic returned to training this week and could be in line for a recall.

Rio Ferdinand serves the second match of a four-game ban, while Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea remain long-term absentees.

Portsmouth will again be without injured defender Herman Hreidarsson, while Michael Brown, Papa Bouba Diop and Tommy Smith are all doubtful.

New signing Ricardo Rocha was on the bench at Fulham and could feature.

---

Man Utd

Suspended: Ferdinand (three matches)

Doubtful: Vidic (nerve in leg)

Injured: Hargreaves (knee), O'Shea (thigh)

Portsmouth

Doubtful: Brown (back), Diop & Smith (both hamstring)

Injured: Hreidarsson (Achilles)

• MATCH PREVIEW

As Portsmouth's financial crisis rumbles on, Wayne Rooney and co will be hoping to cash in on the ongoing turmoil at the south coast club.

The latest twist in a season of upheaval at Fratton Park came this week with the news that Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai has become their fourth owner in six months.

On the pitch, Avram Grant's side remain rooted to the foot of the table after yet another defeat on Wednesday. They have picked up just one point from their last five Premier League outings and are five points adrift of second-from-bottom Burnley.

Pompey's trip to Old Trafford, just as Manchester United are beginning their familiar new year challenge for the Premier League title, could not have been timed any worse.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are not only back in the title race, but they produced a performance against Arsenal which proves they should be taken seriously. And with Chelsea and the Gunners due to meet on Sunday, the visit of Pompey hands United an ideal opportunity to reclaim top spot.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• These sides have met on 74 previous occasions. Man Utd have won 35 to Portsmouth's 20.

• United have won all six Premier League home games against Pompey, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just one goal.

• Wayne Rooney has scored nine goals in 12 games against Portsmouth in the Premier League.

Man Utd

• United have taken 16 points from their last six games.

• They have conceded just one goal in their last seven Premier League games at Old Trafford.

• Paul Scholes is one strike away from joining Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney on 100 Premier League goals.

Portsmouth

• Portsmouth have won just one of their last eight league games (W1, D2, L5).

• Their total of 15 points after 23 games is Portsmouth's lowest-ever return at this stage of a Premier League season.

• Pompey have won just one of their last 25 Premier League matches away from home.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd

Rooney: 22 goals (20 league); Berbatov: 7 goals (7 league);
Owen: 7 goals (2 league)

Portsmouth

Piquionne: 6 goals (3 league); Dindane: 5 goals (4 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Mason

Assistant referees: Jake Collin & Paul Thompson

Fourth official: Jon Moss

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (W3-1 v Arsenal, a): Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Brown, Evra, Scholes (Giggs 71), Carrick, Fletcher, Nani (Berbatov 89), Rooney, Park (Valencia 87). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Owen, Gibson, De Laet.

Portsmouth (L0-1 v Fulham, a): James, Finnan, Wilson, Ben-Haim, Belhadj, Yebda, Basinas (Owusu-Abeyie 82), Boateng, O'Hara, Dindane, Piquionne (Webber 62). Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Rocha, Mullins, Vanden Borre, Hughes.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

Portsmouth 1-4 Man Utd (28 November 2009)

Portsmouth scorer: Boateng 32 (pen)

Man Utd scorers: Rooney 25 (pen), 48, 54 (pen), Giggs 87

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Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand appeals over game ban

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has opted to appeal against his increased ban for violent conduct imposed by the Football Association.

The 31-year-old lost his original appeal against a three-match suspension for an altercation with Craig Fagan in the 4-0 win over Hull on 23 January.

The FA labelled the appeal "frivolous" and increased his ban to four games.

The appeal board will meet before the end of next week and could decide to further increase the punishment.

If that happens, Ferdinand will be ruled out of the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa on 28 February at Wembley.

Ferdinand only returned to action at Old Trafford against Hull for the first time in three months after recovering from a calf injury.

But after appearing to swing an arm at Hull striker Fagan, the England centre-half picked up a three-match ban, which was then extended to four after the FA rejected the defender's appeal.

Because of the appeal, Ferdinand, who has made only 10 appearances for his club so far this season, was able to play in the Carling Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

His ban began at the Emirates against Arsenal on Sunday and he will definitely miss the next Premier League matches with Portsmouth and Aston Villa.

If Ferdinand is successful in overturning the extra match ban then he will be available for the clash at Everton on 20 February.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his displeasure last week with the disciplinary processes being used by the game's governing body.

The Scot said at the time there were "conflicting ways in how these decisions are being viewed".

He added: "I watched the game between Leyton Orient and Charlton (on Monday 25 January) and there was an elbow on the Charlton player three times as he was running with the ball.

"But nothing has happened with that. There is a lot of confusion there."

The United defence has been ravaged by injury for much of the season with Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville, John O'Shea and Wes Brown all spending lengthy periods on the sidelines.

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Manchester United star Wayne Rooney sued for £4.3m

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and his wife, Coleen, are being sued alongside their agent in a £4.3m row with a sports management firm.

The firm, Proactive Sports Management, was involved in negotiating contracts for the couple and is owed commission, Manchester Mercantile Court heard.

The deals were done through agent Paul Stretford, who quit Proactive in 2008, taking the Rooneys with him.

Since then no commission on the deals has been paid, the court heard.

Proactive received commission of up to 20% on multi-million pound deals involving the Rooneys. It claims it is still entitled to commission.

But when Mr Stretford left in acrimony in October 2008 he refused to authorise further payments to the firm, the court heard. That commission now totals £4.3m, the court heard.

Mr Stretford first signed Rooney when the footballer was a teenager playing for Everton.

Agent 'successful'

Ian Mill QC, acting for Proactive, opened the case against the Rooneys and Mr Stretford at the court on Tuesday.

"If one believes the quotes attributed in the press, it appears Mr and Mrs Rooney regard these charges against them as exploitative and financially-driven - these are the quotations that appear in a number of national newspapers," he said.

"If by financially-driven they mean the claimant wishes to recover the substantial sums due to it, I would respectfully agree, but it is hardly a ground for complaint or for criticism."

Mr Mill said that from July 2002, Paul Stretford, through Proactive, had acted for Wayne Rooney "with great success", looking after transfer dealings and his "off-field" business interests.

In short, Proactive simply seeks the monies to which it is contractually entitled Ian Mill QC, acting for Proactive

He also represented Coleen Rooney in her television, magazine and sponsorship deals, the QC added.

But the relationship between Proactive and Mr Stretford broke down over his involvement in a trial at Warrington Crown Court in October 2004.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case because they could "not rely" on him as a witness, Mr Mill said.

Disciplinary hearings were then brought against Mr Stretford by the Football Association (FA) over breaches of agents rules, which led to a nine-month ban beginning in May 2009.

He left Proactive after the board refused to back financially Mr Stretford's appeal against the FA.

Proactive claims he was dismissed for gross misconduct; Mr Stretford maintains he terminated his own contract, the court heard.

Since 8 October 2008, Mr Stretford has refused to authorise payments of commission said to be due to Proactive from contracts signed by the Rooneys while with the company, Mr Mill said.

Proactive claims this amounts to £4.3m in the last 15 months.

"Where, I ask rhetorically, is the exploitation?" Mr Mill added.

"I would respectfully suggest if there is any exploitation it's the exploitation of the Rooneys by Mr Stretford who has used them to further his dispute with Proactive.

"In short, Proactive simply seeks the monies to which it is contractually entitled."

The case is scheduled to last three weeks, with the Rooneys expected to give evidence next week.

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Bury sign Manchester United teenager Sam Hewson on loan

Bury have signed Manchester United midfielder Sam Hewson on loan until the end of the season.

The Shakers are now awaiting Premier League clearance to rubber-stamp the 21-year-old's move.

Hewson made 24 appearances for United's Under-18s in 2005/06, scoring six goals and earning himself regular call-ups to the reserves.

He received a Premier League squad number for the 2008/09 season and was later loaned to Hereford.

Bolton-born Hewson is a creative central midfielder and a strong passer of the ball.

He was spotted at the age of eight and after being offered a trial began training with United a year later.

In his third season as an Academy scholar in 2007/08 he was short-listed for Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year.

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Arsenal 1 - 3 Man Utd

Manchester United outclassed Arsenal at the Emirates to maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea - and brutally expose Arsene Wenger's title ambitions.

Nani and Wayne Rooney combined superbly in a blistering attacking display

Sir Alex Ferguson's champions unleashed a devastating display of sweeping, counter-attacking football inspired by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney and Nani.

Wenger had outlined the importance of the meeting with United in the context of the battle to win the Premier League, and by the final whistle saw his hopes placed in painful perspective by a masterful United.

United now stand only one point behind Chelsea having played a game more, but the manner of this victory will send out the message that no-one will find it easy to wrest the title away from Ferguson's side.

Nani, so long a figure of frustration at Old Trafford, has rarely performed with more threat and finesse than he did in the first 45 minutes here as he ran Gael Clichy ragged and ensured United had established a two-goal lead by the interval.

He baffled Arsenal with a stunning piece of trickery that forced uncertain Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia to turn his cross into his own net after 33 minutes and then set up Rooney's 100th Premier League goal four minutes later.

Best performance of the season - Rooney

United caught Arsenal cold as they turned defence into attack, Rooney sprinting from just outside his own area to take a return pass from Park and finish in style.

Ji-Sung Park graphically illustrated the gulf between Arsenal and United just after half-time when he took advantage of a path lack of resistance to run unchallenged from inside his own half to beat Almunia.

Thomas Vermaelen's deflected shot late on set up an Arsenal rally of sorts, but the scoreline barely reflects United's superiority as they gave the Gunners a painful lesson in ruthless, cutting edge football.

United boss Ferguson opted for Nani ahead of £15m summer signing Antonio Valencia - and the success of the decision was probably beyond all his expectations as the Portuguese winger tortured Arsenal.

Andrey Arshavin offered early optimism for Arsenal's fans with a couple of trademark twisting runs and shots off target - but they turned out to be a false dawn as United soon moved into a different class to Arsenal.

The belief is there - Phelan

William Gallas needed to make timely interventions as United's crisp passing threatened to carve United open, with Nani the primary source of danger as he proved simply too fast and too clever for Clichy.

And when Nani helped fashion United's opener after 33 minutes, it was the signal for a blistering passage of play that saw Arsenal's hopes of getting anything from such a crucial game disintegrate.

Nani tricked his way past Cesc Fabregas into the area with sleight of foot worthy of his celebrated former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, although Almunia should have done a lot better than palm the ball in with a feeble attempt at clearance.

United topped that for quality four minutes later with a goal that, for Arsenal, bore the grim hallmarks of Ronaldo's third goal in the Champions League semi-final second leg at The Emirates last season.

Rooney, not far from the edge of his own penalty area, released the rampaging Nani down the right-flank, and arrived at the other end of the pitch on cue to drill a low finish past Almunia and send Ferguson out of his technical area and along the touchline in sheer delight.

Arsenal were not in the game - Wenger

Nani should have made it three when Rooney found him unmarked at the far post, but his goalbound shot took a crucial touch of Vermaelen that went undetected by referee Chris Foy and flew wide.

If Arsenal had any hope of mounting a fightback they were emphatically snuffed out seven minutes after the interval in a manner that would have been as embarrassing for Wenger as it was satisfying for Ferguson.

Park ran from just inside his own half, free from any Arsenal challenge, and accepted what was almost an open invitation to slip the simplest of finishes past the exposed Almunia.

Vermaelen gave the discontented Arsenal fans a moment of cheer after 80 minutes when his shot was deflected out of the reach of Edwin van der Sar by Jonny Evans - and there were even further opportunities to set up the unlikely prospect of a thrilling finale.

Gallas headed wide of an open goal and Vermaelen saw a shot blocked by Patrice Evra, but Rooney displayed a rare moment of fallibility by wasting the opportunity to give the score a more realistic appearance, shooting wide in stoppage time.

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praises Nani

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Nani is finally starting to deliver on his potential after the 3-1 win over Arsenal.

The 23-year-old Portugal winger, who reportedly criticised Ferguson's management earlier this season, set up two goals in an impressive performance.

"Maturity is why we're seeing the best of him now," said Ferguson.

"His last three games have been absolutely first class but today was his best."

Signed from Sporting Lisbon in summer 2007, Nani has taken some time to settle at Old Trafford.

It seemed his future at the club could have been in doubt after he made just two appearances between the start of November and the end of 2009.

But he has started four of the United's last five matches and Ferguson believes his character is transforming as well as his form.

"He's a very shy boy and maybe his personality is getting stronger to play for us every week. Today was an example of that maturity," the Scot said.

Ferguson believes his side's ability on the break proved crucial in exposing Arsenal's weaknesses.

Ji-Sung Park and Wayne Rooney both scored from slick passing raids which caught the Gunners short in defence.

"Counter-attack has always been a part of our game," said Ferguson.

"Arsenal play a lot of good football and get to the edge of the box regularly, so if you can get the ball, you've got a chance against them."

Rooney's strike took his tally to seven from United's last five matches and it also means he has scored 100 Premier League goals - just the 18th player to do so.

The England international is five goals clear at the top of the Premier League scoring charts having already amassed more than last season's top scorer Nicolas Anelka managed in the whole of last term.

"Rooney was the key player in the sense they just couldn't handle him," Ferguson added.

"Everything was played towards him, in front of him or behind them and he was on to it every time."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger preferred to focus on his own side's shortcomings in his assessment of the match.

The Gunners were unbeaten in their 10 previous league games, but Sunday's result leaves them five points off leaders Chelsea having played a game more.

"We gave them too much room. We were naive. It is difficult to say straight after the game why we were not at our level," said Wenger.

"It is too early to analyse but I believe there are some mental reasons.

"It is a massive blow and a massive disappointment. The players wanted to win, they are really down. We have to recover from that. That is part of top-level football."

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Wealthy Man Utd fans approach broker about takeover

Football financier Keith Harris has been approached by wealthy investors to broker a takeover of Manchester United.

Manchester United's Supporters' Trust has held meetings with influential club supporters interested in exploring the options for a change of ownership.

And Harris says that the time has come for supporters to buy the club back from the Glazer family.

"You sense that the momentum is gathering and this time these fans truly mean it," Harris told BBC Sport.

"I think they are saying that enough is enough, there is too much gearing on this football club and it is unhealthy."

Harris, the head of merchant bank Seymour Pierce, has been involved in four Premier League club takeovers and has long been critical of United's debt that earlier in January was recorded at £716m.

United's recent bond issue raised £500m to ease their debts, but also provoked a furious backlash from many fans, some demanding an immediate change of ownership.

Despite the move by the Manchester United's Supporters' Trust, the Glazer family have told BBC Sport that they are here for the long-term and insisted that their interests are aligned with those of the fans.

On Friday members of Manchester United's Supporters' Trust met with "super-rich" and "influential" investors, with lifelong United fan Harris at the centre of the discussions.

Harris declined to name any of the people who have approached him, identifying them only as 'The Red Knights'.

"We have been approached and if we can lend our weight for doing something for the good of Manchester United and football we will," Harris told BBC Sport's Football Focus show.

"In this case of Manchester United, of whom I am a huge fan and have been for 50 years, they are playing with an icon of football, one of the most respected football brands in the world and it is in danger.

"Seventy-five pence of every pound that [Manchester United] fans are spending is now going to the Glazers either for themselves or to pay debts."

"If these rumblings become a revolution and fans stop going - as difficult as it is for them not to go - and the pounds stop coming in, there is real peril."

Malcolm Glazer and other members of his family took control of Manchester United in 2005 but their purchase of the club was largely funded with borrowed money.

Interest payments on that money have since plunged United into deeper debt and despite winning the Premier League for the third year in a row, the Carling Cup and the Club World Cup last season only the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid helped the club record pre-tax profits of £48.2m for the year to 30 June 2009.

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

Harris is unsure how the offer will be received by the Glazers but believes the family should in effect take the money and hand over the keys to Manchester United.

"It depends on the Glazers' attitude," added Harris.

"Clearly they appeared impervious to the protests when they took the club over and that was fine.

"They don't go [to watch United] very often, they stay in America but you've got to think their businesses in America haven't done well, they can't have done, because the world in general has not done well in business.

"They are probably highly geared in their business activities in America so, if this is an opportunity for them to take the money and go, I would hope they would listen carefully to that offer, providing the money can be raised and I am confident it can be."

But Manchester United themselves have told BBC Sport that they are comfortable with the financial situation at the club, and that manager Sir Alex Ferguson has the £80m the club received from Real Madrid for Ronaldo to spend on new players.

"Manchester United is the most profitable football club in the world," read a club statement.

"Last year, on a record turnover of £278m, the club made a record cash profit of £91m. Interest payments were £41m and wages accounted for less than half of the turnover.

"The recent bond issue has been very successful and provides the club with certainty in its interest payments, as well as great flexibility with the removal of bank covenants.

"The cash from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo is available for Sir Alex to spend and it will be spent on players who are available for purchase and who the manager thinks can improve the squad, not to prove to pundits that it exists."

Harris is unsure how much a takeover will cost, but is certain that the time has come for change at Old Trafford.

"It's too early to say how much would have to be raised," said Harris.

"These debts have run on for a long while and I think they need to be cleared.

"I would hope that there would be sufficient money in addition to that to show the Glazers they could take a profit for owning the business for five years and go and put the ownership into more caring hands.

"This is now serious, what you don't know is if the Glazers can be made to listen, but what you do know is that there is a serious intent on the part of those people, who have not just support in their hearts, but the ability to muster support from their pockets to get after this, and the time feels right."

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