James Milner, Adam Johnson, Tinchy Stryder, Rio Ferdinand, Javier Hernandez, Darron Gibson mark the opening of Nike's first football only store in the world, on Market Street, 11 November 2010 in Manchester. The Nike Football Store has been expanded over 2 floors and is dedicated purely to football, football services and experiences to give fans the very best of Nike Football product.
Man United vs Wigan Athletic preview
FORM GUIDE
Wigan are in a coveted position in the Barclays Premier League - 17th, the first safety spot above the relegation zone.
And the Latics' hopes of staying up are beginning to look up following a draw with Liverpool and then an impressive 3 points against West Bromwich.
Roberto Martinez's men therefore have some momentum as they try to improve on a dismal record of 11 defeats from 11 games against the Red Devils.
5 of those losses have been at Old Trafford, where they've conceded 17 goals and scored just one. United have been impressive at home so far this season, winning 5 out of 6 and scoring 15 goals in the process.
INS & OUTS
Club captain Gary Caldwell is missing for the Latics after suffering a thigh injury against West Bromwich last weekend and James McCarthy is also out having undergone surgery on medial ligament damage to his ankle.
Talented midfielder Tom Cleverley will have to sit it out too, under the terms of his loan from United to Wigan.
Rafael could return for United following his injury against City, as might Ryan Giggs who is getting over a hamstring strain.
Paul Scholes is available again after serving a one-match suspension for his fifth yellow card this term and Wayne Rooney is back in the fold following a training week in US.
STAR MAN
Charles N'Zogbia was signed by former Wigan boss and United legend Steve Bruce from Newcastle in 2009. Since then the French midfielder has excelled for the Latics, prompting speculation of a move to Arsenal. Despite being prominently left-footed, N'Zogbia regularly switches to the right flank, from where he is known to cut inside and attempt a curled shot on goal. This season he's netted 3 times in 11 league appearances.
REFEREE
Martin Atkinson last took charge of United in the 3-3 draw with Everton at Goodison Park earlier this season. He also refereed United's 4-3 win over City at Old Trafford last year, when he riled the Citizens by adding 7 minutes of injury-time at the end of the second half.
Last edited by beavis; 23-11-2010 at 14:10.
Last edited by beavis; 24-11-2010 at 10:28.
Defensive duo miss Ibrox clash
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will both miss Manchester United's Champions League trip to Glasgow on Wednesday night.
Although the central defensive duo trained at Carrington on Tuesday morning, neither were part of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for the Battle of Britain clash at Ibrox.
With a Premier League meeting with in-form Blackburn Rovers looming on Saturday and a Carling Cup quarter-final at Upton Park next Tuesday, Ferguson has opted to give both men a rest, believing his squad are capable of gaining the point required to secure qualification for the knock-out phase without them.
Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, who has not featured since the Carling Cup win over Wolverhampton in October, are expected to deputise.
In addition, Darren Fletcher also sits out the return to Scotland.
Darron Gibson and Gary Neville were the other notable absentees from training on Tuesday morning as United stayed at Carrington for their final session ahead of their short flight to Glasgow.
Ryan Giggs took part in training and Wayne Rooney is expected to make his first start since the Premier League visit to Bolton at the beginning of last month.
Glasgow Rangers vs Man United preview
TEAM NEWS
Rangers will give Sasa Papac every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of their Champions League game against Manchester United. The defender has been out with concussion after suffering a knock to the head a couple of weeks ago and is a doubt for the clash at Ibrox. Madjid Bougherra (hamstring) and Maurice Edu (knee) are both sidelined, with Andy Webster, James Beattie and Nikica Jelavic also still out of action.
MATCH FACTS
United will qualify for the last 16 if they avoid defeat by Rangers.
Rangers have won just one of their last 14 Champions League matches.
The Scottish champions mustered just 2 shots when they drew 0-0 with United at Old Trafford.
Only one team has ever kept 5 clean sheets from the start of a Group Stage (Juventus 2004/2005), a feat United can match with a shut out in this game.
Rangers have only used 4 of a potential 12 substitutes in Champions League, half as many as any other team.
There have only been 4 goals scored in 3 Champions league ties United have played in Scotland.
The English giants have only lost one of their 7 Champions League games against Scottish opposition.
United have won 8 of their last 9 Champions League away matches.
United complete Lindegaard signing
Manchester United have confirmed that they have completed a deal to sign Danish goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.
The 26-year-old international has agreed a 3-and-a-half-year deal and moves for a fee left undisclosed by the club but estimated in newspapers to be around £3.5 million.
Lindegaard will be ineligible to play until the transfer window opens in January 2011, United said on their website.
United have been looking for a long-term replacement for 40-year-old Dutch 'keeper Edwin van der Sar and United manager Alex Ferguson said the club had signed a player of great promise.
"Anders is one of the brightest young 'keepers in the game", Ferguson said.
"The challenge at Manchester United is always to look to the future and in Anders we have signed a goalkeeper of great presence and even more promise."
decat 7-1
West Ham 4 - 0 Man United
Man United vs Valencia preview
Sir Alex Ferguson has vowed to field a full-strength side as United look to collect the single point required to top Group C.
Neither Jonny Evans nor Wes Brown trained on Monday morning but aside from that duo Ferguson has all his senior figures available for the Old Trafford encounter.
United are yet to concede a goal in the competition and would become the first team to complete an entire group phase with 6 straight clean sheets if they keep the Spaniards at bay.
United: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos, Rafael, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Fabio, Nani, Park, Carrick, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Obertan, Ryan Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda, Bebe
Scholes blow for United
Sir Alex Ferguson rates Paul Scholes as doubtful for Monday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
The veteran midfielder has not featured since the victory over Glasgow Rangers last month, when he picked up a groin injury.
Scholes had been expected to play some part in United's draw with Valencia at Old Trafford last night but, after a minor setback in training, Ferguson fears he will not be able to call upon his influential playmaker against Arsene Wenger's men.
"Paul tried training on Sunday and came off", Ferguson told MUTV.
"He will be doubtful for next Monday."
United are one point behind table-topping Arsenal but have a game in hand after Saturday's match with Blackpool fell victim to the weather.
"Arsenal - a club in crisis"
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has branded Arsenal as a "training ground", taking a swipe at the club for their lack of silverware recently, ahead of the highly-anticipated clash between the two clubs.
Arsenal head into the match as leaders of the Premier League, having defeated Fulham last weekend as United's game at Blackpool was postponed due to the weather conditions.
But despite the Gunners' position, Evra has branded Arsenal "a club in crisis" due to the club's lack of trophies in recent times.
The France international told Canal+ television: "For me, Arsenal is a football training centre. You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That's what people remember".
"It has been 5 years since they won anything and for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis."
Evra remains unconcerned by any threat Arsenal may pose, instead focusing on Chelsea as United's main rivals in the title race.
He said: "We can lose against them on the 13th, but at the end of the day, what is there for Arsenal? There is nothing. There are no trophies, there is nothing".
"Our real enemy is Chelsea. We are more concerned with Chelsea's results than those of Arsenal, even if we know Arsenal are a great team who can beat Chelsea, us or anyone."
And while acknowledging Arsenal's attractive football is enjoyable, Evra believes that his team's efficiency is what grants them the edge over their rivals.
"When we play against Arsenal, it is really fun", he said.
"They are a team that plays football who will not come to Old Trafford with 11 men behind the ball."
"We also play football, but the difference is that we also have strength."
"Sometimes, they cannot kill off matches. We are more efficient."
Rio eyes new United deal
Rio Ferdinand has revealed he would like to win a new deal to end his career at Manchester United.
The England captain has 2 years to run on his current contract, but he would be happy to extend it and stay at Old Trafford for the rest of his career.
The 32-year-old has struggled with a series of injuries over the last 2 years, but the former Leeds and West Ham man hopes to prove to Sir Alex Ferguson he deserves a longer stay at United.
"I want to finish my career at United", Ferdinand told the Daily Telegraph.
"I have 2 years on my contract and if the manager sees that I am fit enough, a 4-year deal at that age would be great."
Park to miss 7 games for United
Manchester United match-winner Park Ji-Sung is caught between club and country as he will miss 7 games for the Reds on national duty.
The South Korean midfielder scored the winner in United's win over title rivals Arsenal on Monday.
He also scored a brace, including a late winner, against Wolverhampton in November, enhancing his reputation as a big-game player.
He will fly out of England shortly after Boxing Day to play at the Asian Cup in January although his absence from the United side could be shortened depending on how far South Korea progress.
Anderson signs new deal
Manchester United is pleased to announce that Anderson has signed a new 4 and a half year contract keeping him at the club until at least June 2015.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We are delighted Anderson has signed a new contract".
"Anderson has developed tremendously since joining the club and he has fantastic potential at only 22 years of age, he is going to be a really top player."
Anderson said: "This is the best club to be at and I would like to thank everyone for the great support I have received over the years".
"I am looking forward to winning many more trophies with this club and I am so pleased to have signed a new contract."
Premier League ease fixture fears
The Premier League are confident the big freeze will not lead to a serious fixture pile-up at the end of the season.
8 matches have been postponed due to the weather so far - including 2 involving leaders Manchester United.
But Premier League officials say there are sufficient dates set aside to cope with such postponements.
A spokesman said: "Our football department will already have contingency dates in mind and will work closely with the affected clubs to get new dates agreed as quickly as possible".
Blackpool vs Manchester United has already been rearranged to the last week in January and other matches can take place if and when clubs are knocked out of the FA Cup - as either United or Liverpool will be in the third round.
There is also the precedent for some top-flight matches to be played in those weeks usually reserved for European games.
Man United vs Sunderland preview
With Arsenal and Chelsea facing each other, Manchester United will be aiming to extend their lead in Premier League against Sunderland.
United are top by 2 points despite having played 2 games fewer than Manchester City and one less than Arsenal and Chelsea, who meet at Emirates Stadium on Monday.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping that second place Arsenal and the defending champions Chelsea cancel each other, while aiming to take maximum points at home to Sunderland on Sunday.
If third-place Manchester City also fail to win away to Newcastle, United could find themselves as much as 4 points clear.
There will no complaints about tired bodies, with United having played just twice in December. Their last match, on 13 December, ended in a win at home to Arsenal.
Sunderland's match at home to Bolton was one of only 2 games to go ahead last week.
Steve Bruce's team emerged victorious, with a Danny Welbeck strike securing a win at Stadium of Light.
Welbeck has been instrumental in Sunderland's rise to 6th in the table success, excelling both in attack and on the flanks.
But Bruce will have to make without the promising 20-year-old, who is on loan from United and ineligible to play against his parent club.
Sunderland are also without first-choice central defenders Titus Bramble and Michael Turner, while midfielder Lee Cattermole is suspended.
Bruce started both leading goal scorer Darren Bent and record signing Asamoah Gyan against Bolton, but it remains to be seen if he will risk putting out such an attacking line-up at Old Trafford.
Edwin set to retire
Sir Alex has confirmed he expects Edwin van der Sar to retire at the end of the season.
The Dutch 'keeper has in recent seasons made a decision about his future at Christmas and, while the 40-year-old has yet to confirm anything himself his time, Sir Alex is already preparing for life without him.
"We’re planning for it to be possibly Edwin's last season", the Reds boss told his pre-Sunderland press conference on Thursday.
When asked whether Edwin would go into coaching after ending his playing career, Sir Alex said: "He'll be someone of interest in terms of his knowledge and experience, but we haven't discussed that yet".
New signing Anders Lindegaard has begun training with the Reds and will be officially registered with the club in the New Year.
Edwin is likely to be between the sticks on Sunday against the Black Cats, a game Ferguson is not taking lightly, especially given a virus has swept through his camp again.
United have no new injuries to report for the Boxing Day encounter, with Paul Scholes (groin) and John O'Shea (calf) still sidelined. However, Nemanja Vidic, Nani, Anderson and Michael Carrick have all been laid low with a bug in recent days.
Ferguson is optimistic that quartet will be fit for Sunday but admits the postponement of last weekend's trip to Stamford Bridge may have been a blessing in disguise in one regard.
"We've no injuries to report other than Scholesy and O'Shea", he continued.
"Wes Brown picked up a little injury in the week but he should be ok."
"The biggest thing we've been trying to do is clear up some flu, which we've had about the place over the last 8 days."
"On Sunday we wouldn't had Vidic or Anderson, which was interesting."
"Carrick and Nani have been down with it, but hopefully they'll be ready for Sunday."
Chelsea vs Man United clash rescheduled
Manchester United's postponed English Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been rescheduled for 1 March.
The game was originally due to be played on Sunday but was called off because of heavy snowfall around London.
There is a chance the 1 March date could be changed if either of the two sides are forced to play a replay of their FA Cup fifth-round ties and may also be moved to an earlier FA Cup weekend should both sides be eliminated from the tournament prior to 1 March.
In other United fixture news, FC Barcelona have announced on their website that Sir Alex Ferguson's side will play the Catalan giants in a friendly in Washington on 30 July.
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