Wolverhampton vs. Man Utd

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Molineux Date: Saturday, 6 March 2010 Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, full match commentary on 5 live sports extra, local radio, Final Score, live on ESPN & highlights on Match of the Day

• TEAM NEWS

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is poised to name the same line-up that has started the last three games for Saturday's visit of Manchester United.

Forward Andy Keogh, who made his comeback from an ankle injury last weekend, will again be a substitute.

Manchester United striker Michael Owen is out for the season with a hamstring injury, while Wayne Rooney's minor knee problem will be assessed.

Nani is available after suspension, and Rio Ferdinand is fit to start.

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Wolves

Injured: Edwards (ankle), Kightly (ankle/knee)

Manchester United

Doubtful: Rafael (calf), Rooney (knee)

Injured: Anderson, J Evans & Hargreaves (all knee), Giggs (broken arm), O'Shea (thigh), Owen (hamstring)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Though confronted by Old Gold at Molineux, Manchester United's focus is on new silverware.

United's successful defence of the League Cup trophy at Wembley last weekend was an unprecedented achievement, as would be a fourth successive league title. A win or draw on Saturday will put United top of the table.

The Premier League decided that Wolves tarnished their famous shirts in the reverse fixture in December, when manager Mick McCarthy made 10 changes from the team that beat Tottenham three days earlier. United won 3-0 and Wolves were given a £25,000 fine for breaching the rules by fielding a weakened team.

McCarthy had argued that his first XI would have fared little better, and they certainly haven't done anything to disprove that theory with a return of five points from a possible 27. Nonetheless, with relegation a very real threat, Wolves need to be at full strength and full tilt on Saturday.

United welcome back the new England captain, Rio Ferdinand, but the season is over for one of his predecessors, Michael Owen, who pulled a hamstring during the League Cup final. However, United's strength is that even when weakened they rarely show signs of weakness.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Wolves have only beaten Manchester United once in their last 10 league and cup meetings, a 1-0 Premier League victory at Molineux in January 2004. Wolves have only scored two goals in those 10 games.

• The last meeting between these clubs at Molineux ended in a 3-0 FA Cup win for United four years ago.

Wolves

• They have lost their last two matches without scoring. Their only league victory in the last nine attempts was 1-0 at home against Tottenham Hotspur on 10 February.

• Their only victory in 14 Premier League matches against Big Four opposition was at home to Manchester United in January 2004. Kenny Miller scored the only goal of the game.

• Wolves are the division's lowest scorers with 21 goals, and have failed to score in 12 of their 27 league matches this season.

Manchester United

• United have only won two of their last six away matches in the league. Their two defeats in that time were at Fulham and Everton.

• They have failed to win in both previous Premier League visits to promoted clubs this season, losing 1-0 at Burnley in August and drawing 1-1 at Birmingham City in January.

• They are the joint leading scorers in the Premier League, alongside Arsenal, with 66 goals in 28 matches.

• Wayne Rooney has scored 12 goals in his last nine Manchester United appearances in all competitions. Seven of his last eight goals have been headers, including the last six.

• Paul Scholes still needs one goal to take his tally to 100 in the Premier League.

• Antonio Valencia is poised to make his 100th Premier League start.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Wolves

Doyle: 6 goals (6 league); Craddock: 4 goals (4 league)

Manchester United

Rooney: 28 goals (23 league); Berbatov: 9 goals (9 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Foy

Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Bob Pollock

Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Wolves (L0-1 v Bolton, a): Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Henry, Guedioura (Ebanks-Blake 68), Foley (Keogh 73),
D Jones, Jarvis, Doyle. Subs not used: Hennessey, Elokobi, Vokes, Milijas, Mancienne.

Manchester United (W3-0 v West Ham, h): Foster; Neville, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Gibson, Scholes, Anderson (Park 19), Rooney (Owen 78), Berbatov (Diouf 78) Subs not used: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Evans, Rafael.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

Man Utd 3-0 Wolves (15 December 2009)

Manchester United scorers: Rooney (pen) 30, Vidic 43, Valencia 66

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Michael Owen ruled out for rest of season

Manchester United striker Michael Owen will not play again this season after pulling his hamstring in the 2-1 Carling Cup win over Aston Villa.

Owen is consoled by boss Ferguson after limping out of the Carling Cup final

The 30-year-old, who scored United's equaliser at Wembley, pulled up while chasing a pass in the first half.

The injury all but ends Owen's hopes of playing for England at the World Cup.

"It is more serious than we thought. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley played some part, but it's also bad luck," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Owen, who will have one year remaining on his two-year contract at Old Trafford at the end of this season, was initially expected to be out for only a few weeks, but will now undergo surgery on Monday.

He said: "I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments.

"I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition."

Owen, who has scored 40 goals in 89 games for England, admitted in February that he was not expecting to be included in coach Fabio Capello's 23-man World Cup squad for South Africa.

He last played for the national side in March 2008 in a 1-0 friendly defeat by France, but has not featured in a squad since.

"It's been a long time since I was in the England squad. You never give up but it's probably a long shot in racing terms," Owen told BBC Sport last month.

And that call seems even less likely now, considering Capello said he would only recall Owen if he was playing regularly for United.

Owen, who has struggled with groin, ankle, thigh, hernia, metatarsal and knee ligament injuries in the past, had not missed a training session this season following his surprise move to Old Trafford on a reported pay-as-you-play deal in the summer.

But the 2001 European footballer of the year found starting chances limited, with 20 of his 31 appearances this season coming as substitute.

However, he has scored nine goals in all competitions, including a hat-trick in the Champions League win against Wolfsburg and an injury-time winner in September's Manchester derby before Sunday's equaliser in the Carling Cup final.

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Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves set to make return

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves is set to make his return from injury with a run out for the reserves on Thursday.

The 29-year-old has been out of action since September 2008, when he underwent revolutionary knee surgery.

But Hargreaves has resumed training with the first team and boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he could return against Manchester City's second string.

"He's shown for the first time he is almost ready to play," said Ferguson.

The England midfielder, who joined Manchester United in 2007 from Bayern Munich, has suffered long-term problems with tendinitis and played only three games for his club in 2008.

In a bid to solve the problem, he had knee surgery under the guidance of specialist Dr Richard Steadman in America and returned to United's Carrington training base 12 months later.

But his expected return to training within a couple of months did not materialise and his comeback has been continually delayed.

Recent rumours suggested that Hargreaves was out for the remainder of the season but he could be on target to assist with United's title run-in, should he come through the reserves derby match at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.

Ferguson added: "He has been training with the first team, which has been good to see and is pencilled in for a game with the reserves on Thursday."

United also look set to welcome back Italian Under-21 international Federico Macheda from injury.

It is a timely return, given that forward Michael Owen has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and Danny Welbeck has joined Championship side Preston North End on loan.

"Macheda starts training with the first team again next week which is also good news, particularly considering the loss of Michael," stated Ferguson.

"He is a good player to have back, so we have had some disappointments with some, and light at the end of the tunnel with other players."

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Manchester United owners Glazers get backing from Gill

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has dismissed concerns surrounding the Glazer family, claiming the owners were "running the club the right way".

Man Utd not for sale - Gill

The club's debt level of £716.5m has prompted much unease among supporters, with one group of wealthy fans - "The Red Knights" - targeting a takeover.

But Mr Gill said: "The Glazers do not want to sell and from our perspective are running the club in the right way.

"The owners are very long-term owners... they are not sellers."

The so-called Red Knights include Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, acting in a personal capacity, lawyer Mark Rawlinson and financier Keith Harris.

Mr Gill said that the group were "credible people" who had "every right to do what they think is right".

But he added there were questions about how a group of up to 40 wealthy individuals would be able to run the club.

Financial stability

There has been criticism of the Glazer regime because a once-debt free company is now carrying large debts.

The amount of debt secured on the club and the Glazers' shareholding in it is more than £700m according to recent accounts.

However Mr Gill said that a recent bond issue which replaced £509m bank debt with a £512m bond provided financial stability going forward.

He added: "Our financial results show that we can live with [our financial] structure, and enjoy the benefits."

Before the emergence of the Red Knights, United's owners were already under fire over their control of the club from the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (Must) - which is running a vocal campaign to bring about a change of ownership.

Chief executive of Must, Duncan Drasdo, said its membership had doubled to about 78,000 people in the past month - with much of that growth coming following the "Red Knights revelation".

Mr Gill said that those Manchester United fan groups opposed to the Glazers ownership of the club were intelligent people with ideas about how the Old Trafford outfit should be run.

But he said the issue had perhaps received the wide coverage that it did because United was such a big club.

And he pointed to the cases of clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and AC Milan, where it is the owners who make key decisions, not fans.

Mr Gill told Soccerex delegates: "Unless the owners wish to sell, and they have not given any indication to me, then they can't buy the asset - it is not for sale."

'Passionate'

He said that although the Glazer family did not attend every match at Old Trafford they watched them all on television.

"They are passionate about the club, they do understand sport," he added.

He also pointed to the fact that the Glazer family had owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American Football team since 1995, demonstrating their long-term interest in sport.

"People will see that Manchester United will continue to be a well-run club," he said.

"The structure we have in place is entirely appropriate."

From BBC

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Financiers 'hold Manchester United takeover talks'

A group of financiers - dubbed the "Red Knights" - has met to discuss a billion-pound takeover of Manchester United, BBC Sport understands.

Some Manchester United fans are protesting against the Glazers' ownership

United are owned by the Glazer family, but the club's high level of debt - now at £716.5m - has prompted much unease.

Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, who was acting in a personal capacity, lawyer Mark Rawlinson and financier Keith Harris were at the meeting.

A spokesman for the Glazers told BBC Sport: "United is not for sale."

However, United's owners are now facing a two-pronged attack over their control of the club with the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (Must) running a vocal campaign to bring about a change of ownership.

Keith Harris reveals interest in Man Utd takeover

Must's chief executive Duncan Drasdo confirmed the group had been in attendance at Monday's Red Knight meeting and had been involved in discussions with the group "for some time".

"This development is hugely welcome as there is a genuine desire to see a change of ownership at Manchester United," he said.

"Initially the Red Knight Group has effectively set a challenge to Manchester United supporters to demonstrate they wish to see an alternative ownership proposal developed.

"In the first instance supporters are being asked to do this simply by joining the free online membership of the Supporters Trust and swelling its ranks to an initial target of at least 100,000.

"It is also essential for a majority of two key groups, the Old Trafford Season Ticket holders and those with Executive facilities, to show their appetite for participation by joining the Must online campaign."

Must has recruited 53,520 members and recently started working with Blue State Digital, a communications agency that worked on Barack Obama's successful US Presidential election campaign.

Their "Green and Gold" campaign has seen supporters don the colours of Newton Heath - the club was renamed Manchester United in 1902 - with plenty of green and gold scarves in evidence at Sunday's Carling Cup final.

BBC sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar says the idea of an attempt to oust the Glazers has been a long time in coming.

"The takeover of Manchester United by the Glazers was controversial, and many fans were opposed to the way the deal was put together, involving high levels of borrowing," he said.

"The latest accounts show debts at United's parent company increased to more than £700m, and a recent bond issue, while successful, raised concerns further

"The vocal campaign has been stiffened by the emergence of the Red Knights group which includes bankers and business experts.

"Keith Harris has advocated fans starving the club of cash by not renewing season ticket or buying merchandise to force the club to consider a sale

"Should that happen this consortium wants to be ready to make an offer but for now, according to the Glazers' spokesman, the door is firmly closed."

The City financiers insist that their initiative is about changing the owners and that they have complete confidence in chief executive David Gill and manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The "Red Knights" group also accepts that any takeover would have to be agreed by the Glazers, but that the club's American owners cannot prevent them from putting forward a proposal.

The financiers are also understood to want supporters to play a key role in their campaign.

According to the latest accounts that were released in January, debts at United's parent company Red Football Joint Venture have increased to £716.5m.

Red Football Joint Venture is owned by the Glazer family and secures its debts against the football club, but the accounts also confirmed that six of Malcolm Glazer's children were each given loans worth £1.67m from the parent company.

All are directors of Red Football, and such a practice is legal, but Harris, who is the head of merchant bank Seymour Pierce, has said it did "not create a good impression of the directors' governance of the company".

On Sunday, United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carling Cup final to give Ferguson his 34th trophy with the club.

The "Red Knights" group is due to release a statement on Tuesday.

From BBC

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Gary Neville focuses on current form at Manchester Utd

Manchester United's Gary Neville will not worry about his future but intends instead to focus on his current form.

The 35-year-old defender, who has played for United for 18 years, comes to the end of his contract in June and has yet to be offered a new deal.

"I don't know. I'm not thinking about it," he said when asked about extending his career beyond this season.

"I'm at the age now where I just want to stay fit and concentrate on the last few days of the season."

Neville is part of a famed generation at Old Trafford under manager Sir Alex Ferguson, that rose through the ranks with the likes of David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and his brother Phil to form part of the group known as "Fergie's fledglings".

But the former United skipper has struggled to make the team recently, falling behind Wes Brown and Rafael da Silva in Ferguson's selection for right-back.

The veteran defender added: "The difference now is that when I play games I get fitter, but when I get injured it takes me a month to get back."

Neville has been plagued by repeated injuries since breaking his ankle in a match against Bolton in 2007.

In the last three season he has suffered repeated muscular injuries resulting in only a sporadic presence on the field.

He has been increasingly sidelined as he has aged, missing out on both the 2008 and 2009 Champions League finals.

Despite such worries, Neville came on as a substitute in the Carling Cup final on Sunday for around 25 minutes as United battled to retain the league cup, beating Aston Villa 2-1.

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Wayne Rooney asks England fans not to boo John Terry

International friendly - England v Egypt

Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Wednesday, 3 March Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on ITV1, full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and online, live text updates on BBC Sport website.

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Wayne Rooney is urging England supporters not to boo John Terry in the friendly against Egypt on Wednesday.

No change to squad harmony - Rooney

The Manchester United striker wants fans to show support for Terry, sacked as England captain last month after allegations of an extra-marital affair.

"He [Terry] hasn't got the armband but he's still a great player and a great leader," said Rooney.

Rooney also said he was fit for the Wembley fixture despite suffering discomfort in his knee on Sunday.

Wednesday's match is England's first since allegations were made that Chelsea captain Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of Wayne Bridge - a former team-mate at Stamford Bridge and with England - who now plays for Manchester City.

Terry, 29, was taunted by City fans during his team's 4-2 home defeat on Saturday, when Bridge refused to shake his hand before the kick-off.

Bridge said last week he no longer wished to play for England because his position in the squad had become "untenable and potentially divisive"

However, Rooney said he expected Terry to get "the same as normal" reception at Wembley on Wednesday.

"The squad has been no different since we met up," said the striker, who came off the bench to score Manchester United's winner in their 2-1 Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday.

"I've been in the team when a few players have been booed at Wembley and it's not nice - it doesn't send the right message.

"I hope he gets a good reception. When you are leading up to a World Cup, you want the fans behind us and giving us their full support because that will be really important."

Fears of a hostile reception for Terry follow England fans' boos aimed at his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard during England's Euro 2008 qualifying win against Estonia in 2007.

Lampard's then team-mate Joe Cole slammed the fans at the time, saying: "Frank has been one of England's most consistent players over the years and he has never let England down.

"It is not nice to hear that, it is not nice to hear one of your mates getting that. He doesn't deserve it."

Rooney, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season, added: "Wayne Bridge is a fantastic player and especially now with Ashley Cole being injured I'm sure he'd have been the one to take his place. It's unfortunate but it's his decision and you have to respect it."

The striker suffered a knee problem during Sunday's final but said: "It's OK. I went for a scan and it's just a bit of bruising. I'll be fit to play."

He added that there had been no disruptions in the run-up to England's final game before manager Fabio Capello's provisional World Cup squad is announced, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding preparations.

Meanwhile, Villa's James Milner said he is prepared to play at left-back, should Capello want him to fill the problem position.

"To have Wayne Bridge available would be great but we'll move on," said Milner.

"I've had 15 minutes experience at left-back but that was for England. If I'm asked to play there I'll do the best job I can - but my best position is further forward, in central midfield or out wide."

And both Rooney and Milner said Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who is in an England squad for the first time and whose challenge on Aaron Ramsey at the weekend resulted in a double compound fracture for the Arsenal midfielder, had been made welcome.

"I was with him at United for a couple of years and he's not that type of player," said Rooney. "I'm sure he'll be OK, he'll be welcomed into the squad and will be hoping to get a game on Wednesday.

"It's unfortunate but he's got to move on now. He's in the squad at a young age, it's important for him to get a game and if he does I'm sure he'll do well."

Milner said: "He'll come to terms with it. Hopefully this will give him some confidence, help get his mind back on football."

Rooney had earlier revealed he knew last Wednesday that he would not start the Carling Cup final but said it was not because of the knee problem.

"I had a little bit of a stomach bug and the manager was looking for an excuse to leave me out," the forward said.

"When he found out about that it made his mind up. I was still disappointed but it was the correct decision by the manager."

Rooney's Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand did not join the England camp in Watford.

Instead, he will have further treatment on his back injury in the hope of being fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Wolves on Saturday.

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Burnley to pay Manchester Utd £500,000 for Eckerlsey

A Football Association tribunal has agreed a sum of £500,000 to be paid by Burnley to Manchester United for defender Richard Eckersley.

Eckersley joined the Clarets last year on a four-year contract after he turned down an opportunity to stay with the Premier League champions.

The 20-year-old, who has yet to appear in the Burnley first team, was claimed to be worth more than £1m by United.

But the tribunal ordered the club to pay half that amount plus add-ons.

Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher told the club website: "We thank the tribunal for taking a common sense approach to this.

"When the smallest club in the league tries to take on the biggest club in the league you always wonder how it's going to end up.

"We have always valued the player around the £300,000 mark until he starts establishing himself in the first-team.

"When Manchester United were asking a million-plus we thought we had to stand up and be counted and that's what we did."

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Aston Villa 1 - 2 Man Utd

Substitute Wayne Rooney made the decisive contribution in the Carling Cup final with a late winner as Manchester United beat Aston Villa at Wembley.

Rooney started on the bench but finished as the game's match-winner

Rooney entered the action just before half-time to replace the injured Michael Owen and enabled Sir Alex Ferguson's side to come from behind and retain the trophy.

Aston Villa's Wembley showpiece started perfectly when James Milner put them ahead from the spot after five minutes following Nemanja Vidic's foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa clearly felt referee Phil Dowd should have sent Vidic off after he hauled down Agbonlahor as he closed in on goal - and their burning sense of injustice was fuelled even further when United quickly restored equality.

Rooney delighted with winner

Richard Dunne lost possession to Dimitar Berbatov, and when he attempted to repair his error he could only find Owen, who slipped a perfect finish past Villa keeper Brad Friedel.

Owen looked sharp in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello, but his lingering hopes of persuading the Italian to include him in his World Cup plans for South Africa may have ended when he pulled up as he ran into the area and was forced to leave the action.

It was hardly good news for Villa as it allowed Rooney to come on, with the striker clearly desperate to make an impact after starting on the bench.

Ji-Sung Park hit the post for United before Rooney rose to head the outstanding Antonio Valencia's cross past Friedel with 16 minutes left.

Rooney almost extended United's victory margin when he hit the woodwork with another header, but his amazing season continued as his 28th goal of the campaign gave Ferguson another piece of silverware.

Vidic was fortunate to see Emile Heskey's header deflect off him on to the bar late on, but by that stage United were firmly in control and well on the way to victory.

It was a bitter disappointment for Villa, who started so promisingly, but they tired as the game wore on at Wembley and United ultimately deserved their triumph.

Ferguson decided to rest Rooney, who has been in devastating form, from his starting line-up and give Owen his opportunity in a Wembley final that was to drag the England striker from one end of the emotional scale to the other.

Villa's ploy was always going to be to test United with pace and power up front - and it was rewarded with the early goal boss Martin O'Neill must have craved.

Vidic should have gone - O'Neill

Agbonlahor was too quick for Vidic and the United defender had already tugged at his shirt before hauling him down. Referee Dowd did not punish Vidic further, despite the fact that he was the last United defender and flirted with a red card, and Milner steered the penalty coolly past Tomasz Kuszczak.

Villa's lead only lasted seven minutes, and it was an error from the normally reliable Dunne that led to United's swift equaliser.

Dunne lost possession to Berbatov, and even though he recovered he could only divert the ball into the path of Owen, who steered an expert precision finish low past Friedel.

The game was remarkably open, with Milner a prominent figure, and he brought a fine diving save from Kusczcak with a 20-yard effort.

Owen had looked sharp, but his injury curse struck again as half-time approached when he pulled up as he raced for possession with Dunne in the area. It was clear immediately that his game was over and he walked away disconsolately to be replaced by Rooney.

United almost ended an enthralling first 45 minutes in the lead when Park struck a post after James Collins could only partially clear Valencia's cross.

And United posed the first danger after the break when Friedel saved well from Michael Carrick, whose shooting had been very erratic up to that point.

The second half was much more of a cat-and-mouse affair, but predictably it was Rooney who gave United the advantage when he struck with 16 minutes left.

Berbatov cleverly played in Valencia, whose cross left Rooney with work to do, but not only did he win the aerial battle with the taller Collins, he sent a towering header high beyond Friedel into the top corner.

And the England striker almost repeated the feat three minutes later when Valencia was once more the provider, but he sent a more powerful header against the post.

Villa responded by introducing the giant figure of John Carew for Carlos Cuellar - and his presence almost forced Vidic into an error that resulted in an equaliser.

Stewart Downing's cross caused confusion, and Vidic was lucky to see Heskey's header bounce off his shoulder on to the bar.

United had one last anxious moment when another Downing cross was just out of Dunne's reach at the back post, but Ferguson's side held out for a deserved victory.

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Cup win unbelievable, says Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was delighted with his match-winning heroics in the Carling Cup final.

Rooney delighted with winner

Rooney started the game on the bench but got an early call when Michael Owen was forced off with a hamstring injury.

"It's a great feeling to play a final at Wembley and to score the winning goal is unbelievable," he said.

"Obviously I wanted to play but I had a bit of a sore knee. Fortunately for me I came on and I'm delighted with the winning goal."

After United's 2-1 win over Aston Villa, manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed he knew weeks ago that Rooney would not be starting the Wembley showpiece, having decided to pair Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen in attack.

Rooney came on in the 42nd minute and scored 32 minutes later - looping a header past Brad Friedel to help United retain the trophy.

"I was chomping at the bit to get on," Rooney added. "You want to play in finals. Thankfully I have managed to do so and left my mark on the game.

"I knew on Wednesday or Thursday I wouldn't be playing. I had a little bit of a stomach bug and the manager was looking for an excuse to leave me out.

"When he found out about that it made his mind up. I was still disappointed but it was the correct decision by the manager."

Nevertheless, Rooney looks increasingly unlikely to start for England in their friendly against Egypt on Wednesday.

Despite the threat of injury or burn-out, Rooney is keen to play as much as he can as he edges closer to the goalscoring mark of ex-United star Cristiano Ronaldo two seasons ago.

"I am enjoying playing at the minute and enjoying scoring goals," said Rooney, whose Wembley winner was his 28th for the club this season. "Hopefully that will continue.

"Cristiano got 42 but I am just looking to contribute to us winning medals. If that happens it would be great but as long as we win medals it would be even better."

Villa boss Martin O'Neill saluted Rooney, who also hit the post with another header, saying: "He's a world-class player and arguably in the top three players in the world. It only made it more exciting when he came on."

In contrast, Owen is set for a spell on the sidelines after pulling up with hamstring trouble trying to run through on the Villa goal.

Ferguson took responsibility for the striker being forced off before the interval.

Owen happy to score but surprised to start

He said: "He (Owen) did really well for us and it was a good performance from him. It's maybe our fault too. He's not had a lot of minutes recently and that soft pitch didn't help him. It's a bad blow for us."

Owen admitted his day had been soured by his failure to see out the 90 minutes, but he was delighted to score.

"It's unfortunate, it's a great to win and score and play a part. Hopefully it will not take too long to recover.

"It's the first injury [since joining United] but it's been a great day. This team has done fantastically well and it's my third League Cup."

Owen shrugged off continued talk about an England recall after scoring in front of national coach Fabio Capello.

"I don't think about it to be honest," he added. "A lot of people have been getting their knickers in twist - I just want to play well for Manchester United and if that gets me recognition then great."

From BBC

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Wayne Rooney a doubt for Egypt friendly

Carling Cup hero Wayne Rooney is a doubt for England's friendly against Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Manchester United boss said Rooney was suffering from discomfort in his knee after the win over Aston Villa.

"He got a whack right away," Ferguson said. "He has been complaining about that for a few weeks and I thought we might have to take him off.

"The doctors are assessing it. I don't know what England are going to do."

Rooney, 24, came off the substitute's bench to score his 28th goal of the season in United's 2-1 victory at Wembley and was allowed to join up with the rest of the England squad on Sunday evening where he will be assessed by a medical team.

A decision on whether England manager Fabio Capello will have his talisman striker available for Wednesday's game against the African Nations Cup winners is expected on Monday or Tuesday.

Rooney revealed he knew on Wednesday that he would not start the final but said it was not because of the knee problem.

"I had a little bit of a stomach bug and the manager was looking for an excuse to leave me out," the forward said.

"When he found out about that it made his mind up. I was still disappointed but it was the correct decision by the manager."

Rooney's Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand confirmed he would not be heading to the England camp in Watford.

Instead, he will have further treatment on his back injury in the hope of being fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Wolves on Saturday.

From BBC

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Wayne Rooney may be rested for Carling Cup final

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is considering resting in-form striker Wayne Rooney for Sunday's Carling Cup final against Aston Villa.

Ferguson and O'Neill go head-to-head for the season's first major trophy

Rooney has scored 11 goals in his last eight games but Ferguson is weighing up whether the 24-year-old needs a rest.

Ferguson said: "It has to be a consideration. The problem is he is desperate to play. He always is."

United face AC Milan in the Champions League in two weeks and are vying for the Premier League crown with Chelsea.

Ferguson faces a selection headache as his side contest the season's first major trophy against Aston Villa, who are looking to end 14 years without any silverware.

Having opted for fringe players in earlier rounds, the Scot brought in the big guns to help dispose of neighbours Manchester City in the semi-final.

Rooney desperate to play in Carling Cup final

And he now has to decide on whether to continue with his top striker as United look to win the competition for a fourth time.

After a double in recent matches with AC Milan and West Ham, Rooney's overall goal tally for the season stands at 27, just 15 short of Cristiano Ronaldo's haul in the 2008 Champions League-winning campaign.

United's season run-in involves a maximum of 17 games and Ferguson joked: "Maybe it is Wayne's chance to play right-back because he keeps telling everyone he is a great defender, centre-half or sweeper."

The England striker, however, may disagree with Ferguson's sentiment, and told BBC's Football Focus: "It's a game everybody wants to play in. You can win that first trophy and it gives you something to build on.

"I hope to start. It's what you play football for. I don't want to be left out."

Ferguson may include rising stars midfielder Darron Gibson, centre-half Jonny Evans and young Brazilian defender Rafael in the starting XI.

He said: "I'm thinking about the younger ones to give them a smell of it.

"But we want to win the cup having got there and got through the semis which were very emotional. We have got this opportunity of winning something.

"They only way you can enjoy Wembley is winning. It's not a nice day when you lose."

The goalkeeper spot is another hotly-contested position with Ben Foster, United's hero in last year's penalty shootout victory against Tottenham, and Pole Tomasz Kuszczak hoping to replace regular Edwin van der Sar.

It will be Villa's first trip in 10 years to the London stadium since their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea in the FA Cup final and they are now eyeing their first major prize since lifting the League Cup trophy in 1996 when they beat Leeds 3-0.

Confident O'Neill expects open Cup final

Villa boss Martin O'Neill, touted by some as the ideal candidate to replace Ferguson when he finally retires, is in buoyant mood.

England's Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and James Milner have all impressed in recent weeks.

And O'Neill said: "We have some players in brilliant form who can cause them problems.

"Our confidence comes from being the only team to win at Old Trafford in the league this season. We played exceptionally well that day. But Sunday's game will be open."

O'Neill should have skipper Stiliyan Petrov back after overcoming a virus, while keeper Brad Friedel, defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey are all pushing for a start after being rested in the FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Crystal Palace.

The former Northern Ireland midfielder, who previously managed Wycombe, Leicester and Celtic, joined Villa four years ago and believes silverware could help kick-start a golden era for the club.

"Winning a trophy is the ultimate. There is no getting away from that and it would be fantastic," O'Neill said.

"We have a lot of pictures of the old teams around the training ground. It is something to aspire to.

Ferguson praises League Cup rival O'Neill

"I have often said to keep the pictures up on the walls of the 1981 league-winning side and 1982 European Cup-winning side. The early 1980s was a fantastic spell for Villa.

"The history of the club is there to see, a great tradition, so we'd like to try and do something about it."

Villa's captain Petrov is hoping a Wembley victory can help eradicate the bad memories of losing the 2003 Uefa Cup final to Porto in Seville when he played under O'Neill at Celtic.

"This is the biggest day of my club career," the Bulgarian midfielder said.

"We are heading for a massive game for this club, for the players, for the fans and I hope at the end of it we can all be happy.

"But we don't just want to be passengers there, just to go and enjoy it, without winning it.

"We will put up a massive fight and we will do our best to win it."

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Manchester United's Edwin Van der Sar extends contract

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar has signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman, 39, is tied to the club until the end of the 2010/11 season.

"I still feel good and am enjoying my football. I am looking forward to winning more trophies with this great team," said Van der Sar.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Edwin's professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him longevity in the game."

Ferguson, who has been linked with a number of potential new keepers, including CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev, added: "That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at Juventus, Ajax and on an international level.

"We are absolutely delighted he is continuing for another year."

Van der Sar is expected to feature in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday having missed two months of the campaign following a knee injury and his wife becoming ill.

"This is a great club and I was shown a great deal of compassion and support during a difficult time in December and January for which I am extremely grateful," said Van der Sar, whose wife, Annemarie, suffered a brain haemorrhage before Christmas.

Since joining United from Fulham, Van der Sar has won three Premier League titles and the Uefa Champions League, but did not feature in Manchester United's Carling Cup final victory over Tottenham last season when understudy Ben Foster emerged as a penalty shoot-out hero by saving a Jamie O'Hara spot-kick.

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