Showing posts with label Manchester United. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester United. Show all posts

Premier League 25-man squads


PREMIER LEAGUE teams have revealed their 25-man squads for the first time.

Clubs must now name a line-up of players who are OVER 21 and at least eight of them have to be homegrown.

A homegrown player is one who has been registered with an English or Welsh club for three years before they are 21.

That means the likes of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Nicklas Bendtner are classed as homegrown.

Managers can use as many under 21 players as they want, regardless of nationality.

You can see who the bosses have picked by clicking on a club badge on the right.

Each team will be updated throughout the day as squads are announced.

Van der Sar still happy to play on


Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar claims the thought of retirement is still far from his mind.

The veteran Dutchman will turn 40 in October but still has no intention of winding down his lengthy career.

The former Netherlands international joined United from Fulham in 2005 and believes the move to Old Trafford gave him a fresh lease of life.

Speaking about retirement, van der Sar explained: "I don't worry about when that day arrives. I am now exceeding my own expectations so it doesn't bother me.

"When I was younger I thought maybe I would finish in my mid-30s. But that is a normal time to be thinking about it when you are younger and for players at this level.

"That would have been the obvious time to finish, but I only came to United late in my career and maybe that is why I am still enjoying it.

"Coming to Old Trafford probably gave me a new lease of life."

Meanwhile, van der Sar claims he will continue to play at the top level for United as long as the club continues to show faith in him.

"The club have to be happy," he added. "If they are not happy with the quality you are producing then there is no need to keep on going.

"I broke two fingers in pre-season last year and then got another knee injury later on, but every time I was fit I was picked again so that was a good sign for me.

"It proved he still had confidence in me and my qualities and ability.

"It is always nice when you work hard to get back and then the first opportunity to put you back in the team he does it. It is important to know he has that faith."

England left Roo dishevelled


FABIO CAPELLO sent Wayne Rooney back from his World Cup misery in a 'dishevelled' state, according to one of his Manchester United bosses.

The England striker endured a bitterly disappointing finals in South Africa as he failed to find the net in four matches.

That was part of a 13-match drought - the longest of his career - which finally ended with his penalty against West Ham on Saturday.

And United's assistant boss Mike Phelan claims Rooney, 24, was not himself when he returned to Old Trafford for the new season.

Phelan admits the striker is still not fully fit.

He said: "Wayne came back to us a little bit dishevelled from his England exploits - and he is not 100 per cent fit yet. Now he has got a couple of games with his national team and that will possibly help him and he'll come back to us a bit better.

"He is still short on certain aspects of his game but as long as you keep your head up and keep persevering, things will happen."

Phelan hopes the penalty Rooney scored against the Hammers will lead to a run of goals.

He added: "Strikers cannot score every week, much as they would like to. Hopefully now he can relax, enjoy his football and carry on from where he left off.

"There was only ever going to be one person who took that penalty. His overall game was better against West Ham, he looked stronger."

Meanwhile team-mate Owen Hargreaves is facing 'crunch time' in his battle to save his United career.

Boss Alex Ferguson must decide by 5pm tomorrow whether to gamble on the injury-ravaged midfielder in his 25-man squad.

If he does not, then it would mean the former England star, 29 - who is out of contract in the summer - will not feature in league games until January at the earliest.

He has spent the last seven weeks undergoing more work on his knees with Colorado-based specialist Dr Richard Steadman.

And Ferguson recently admitted he has no real idea when the two-year fitness battle will be over.

Fergie said: "There is no limit on the number of players under the age of 21, so I have plenty of room for manoeuvre.

"There's only one issue really and that is whether I can afford to hand one of the 25 places to Owen as he continues to battle for full fitness.

"Once the squad is named, you cannot change until the next transfer window. It's crunch time this week, with the deadline falling at 5pm Wednesday."

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