Saturday, August 16, 2008
posted on: 4:59 AM
Man Utd v Newcastle preview
Watch Man Utd v Newcastle live on Sky Sports 1 this Sunday
Manchester United begin the defence of their Premier League title at home to Newcastle.
The Red Devils are looking to take the crown for a third year in a row and an 11th time in total.
They recovered well from a tricky start last season to emerge as champions, as they were held 0-0 on the opening day by Reading and failed to win any of their first three games.
However, a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2004 is the only time in the last 12 years that Sir Alex Ferguson's men have tasted defeat in their first fixture of the campaign.
Renowned for being virtually unbeatable at Old Trafford, United have not dropped a point at the Theatre of Dreams since losing the derby to Manchester City on 10th February.
Newcastle are faced with the unenviable task of trying to replicate City's achievement, but have emerged successful on the opening day in each of the last two seasons.
They have, however, never won a Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, while they have not tasted success over The Red Devils since September 2001 - a run stretching back 13 games.
The Magpies will also be all too aware that the corresponding fixture last season saw them on the wrong end of a 6-0 hiding.
Ferguson faith
With no new faces added over the summer, Ferguson is keeping the faith with those who performed so impressively last year.
John O'Shea could step into the void left by the injured Owen Hargreaves, while Wayne Rooney has shaken off a virus and Ferguson expects the England man to feature at some stage.
Should Rooney not be fit enough to start, then Ryan Giggs will once again partner Carlos Tevez up front, in the same way as he did in the Community Shield triumph over Portsmouth last Sunday.
Michael Carrick is in contention for a starting role in midfield, but Portugal international Nani is suspended for the opening two games of the season.
Patrice Evra may be asked to fill the left-wing role, while Ferguson must decide whether to start the fit-again Gary Neville at right-back or go with last season's first choice Wes Brown.
Louis Saha, Ben Foster, Ji-sung Park and the inspirational Cristiano Ronaldo all miss out through injury.
Debut for ArgentineNewcastle's Jonas Gutierrez has received intentional clearance in time to make his Premier League debut.
Michael Owen, who has been struggling with a calf problem during pre-season, will not be risked, with the trip to Old Trafford coming too soon for the England striker.
New signings Danny Guthrie and Sebastien Bassong will be hoping to feature at some stage, while Alan Smith will be looking to put the recent speculation surrounding his future firmly behind him as he prepares to face his former club.
Joey Barton is unlikely to feature in the season opener, as having spent much of the summer in jail the midfielder is someway short of match fitness.
Obafemi Martins, Abdoulaye Faye and Shole Ameobi are all doubtful for Kevin Keegan's men, while Mark Viduka and Andy Carroll are definitely sidelined.
Fabricio Coloccini, the latest new face at St James' Park, is in contention for a place in the side after completing his move from Deportivo La Coruna.
Possible starting XIsManchester United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Evra, Giggs, Tevez
Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Milner, Guthrie, Butt, Gutierrez, Duff, Martins
Manchester United have been boosted by the news that Wayne Rooney is fit for the start of the Premier League season.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has declared the striker ready for Sunday's Old Trafford curtain-raiser with Newcastle, live on Sky Sports 1.
The England international missed the last two weeks of United's pre-season preparations for the defence of their top-flight crown after picking up a virus on the club's tour of Africa.
However, Ferguson now looks set to name Rooney, who has returned to training with the Red Devils since last week's Community Shield victory over Portsmouth, in his squad for the visit of Newcastle.
"Wayne is fit to play on Sunday," said Ferguson.
Medical
"He has trained all week. We took him down to the Community Shield last Sunday and he did some work for us then.
"From then on he has been progressing really well."
However, Ferguson remains tight-lipped over reports that United are on the verge of completing a £25million move for Dimitar Berbatov.
Rumour is rife that the Tottenham star travelled to United's training ground on Friday to undergo a medical.
But, when asked about Berbatov, Ferguson has declined to comment, saying: "I have nothing to say, absolutely nothing at all."
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid958992159/bctid1731910500
Dessy Desmond Tan.
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