| Partizan Belgrade v Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski back in the line of fire Error-prone Polish goalkeeper set to replace Manuel Almunia for Champions League clash in Belgrade. telegraph.co.uk |
Ferguson must cope without Rooney and creative spark • Striker may miss Euro 2012 qualifier with ligament damage• Paul Scholes injury adds to United dilemmas against ValenciaWayne Rooney's difficult start to the season has taken another significant turn for the worse after tests on his damaged ankle showed he will not only miss Manchester United's Champions League tie here in Valencia but may be out for three weeks, ruling him out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.The ligament damage could mean he misses United's next three games as well as becoming the seventh England international already out of Fabio Capello's plans for the game at Wembley on 12 October.Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Michael Dawson and Bobby Zamora are injured and James Milner is suspended, and the shortage of front players could mean that only two strikers from England's most recent squad, Darren Bent and Peter Crouch, are available to Capello.Another enforced absence for Rooney, troubled by persistent ankle issues for the last six months, also has ramifications for United, even if the reigning Footballer of the Year has had a disappointing start to the season. "You don't want to lose your best players," his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, conceded. "I think Wayne will be two to three weeks maybe. In fairness he's a strong lad and he's done quite well recovering from injures in the past."It is, however, becoming a theme, and Ferguson did not take kindly to being asked what the x-ray had shown. "It's an ankle injury," he said. "Do you want me to describe every ligament? Christ."The loss from United's perspective is exacerbated because a clutch of other injury problems are affecting some of their more creative players, with Paul Scholes joining the list of absentees in Spain because of a calf strain. "It was a big decision to leave Scholes behind," Ferguson said. "With [Ryan] Giggs and Wayne, there was absolutely no choice. But the problem with small injuries, such as Scholes's, is that, if he travels, plays and spends time on the plane, stiffness sets in and it doesn't get any better. Sometimes you are tempted but it is never wise."The injuries have forced Ferguson to change his team for a match that goes ahead despite the backdrop of a national strike, with Spaniards protesting at drastic cuts in public spending by the president, José Luis Zapatero. Ferguson is more concerned about the elements of his own workforce that are not fully functioning and the manager has another dilemma when it comes to Rio Ferdinand – again, a cause of uncertainty for Capello, too.The England captain has missed 61 of the last 103 matches for United, going back to December 2008, and the concerns over his body are such that he can no longer be regarded as an automatic fixture in the side, even though Jonny Evans has struggled alongside Nemanja Vidic at times this season.Ferguson admitted he was not certain whether to pick Ferdinand and, with Gary Neville staying in Manchester because of a virus and Michael Carrick lacking match fitness after an achilles problem, United's starting XI could include not one English player, something that has happened only once before, against Manchester City in May last year.After being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Rangers in their opening match of Group C, a trip to the Mestalla represents a difficult assignment and Ferguson's wariness of the Spaniards can be gauged by the fact that, when he flew out to watch their 1-1 draw against Atlético Madrid last week, rather than watch his own team in the Carling Cup at Scunthorpe, it was only the third occasion in nearly 24 years as manager he has missed a United match.United, with only one win in 18 visits to Spanish opponents, have conceded at least two goals in four of their first six Premier League games. The danger cannot be underestimated against opponents who have won four of their first five La Liga games, even after the departure of their two most important players, David Silva and David Villa, in the summer."Valencia's home record over the years has been very good," Ferguson said. "We respect that; we'd be foolish not to."Wayne RooneyManchester UnitedEnglandChampions LeagueDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool sale: Peter Lim withdraws his offer to buy club • I am not able to proceed, says Singapore businessman• Lim had improved offer to £320m on Tuesday• Liverpool sale: Live coveragePeter Lim has withdrawn his £320m offer to buy Liverpool. The Singapore business announced his decision today, claiming that the football club's board have no intention of selling to him."It has become clear to me that the board is intent on selling the club to New England Sports Ventures to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids," said Lim. "In these circumstances, I am not able to proceed with my intention to acquire the clubA high court ruling on Wednesday gave the Liverpool board the right to proceed with a £300m sale of the club to NESV, who also own the Boston Red Sox baseball team.However, the current owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who lost the case, later gained a temporary restraining order on the sale in a Texas court. The takeover case returned to the high court on Thursday as the board seeks to overcome the restraining order.Lim, who made his fortune through stockbroking, said he had received no response to his offer."I have tried to engage constructively with the board and Royal Bank of Scotland based on an offer, funded from my existing resources, providing greater value for Liverpool Football Club, more cash for players, full repayment of all bank debts and a long term personal commitment to build a better future for the club and its supporters," he said."The board and RBS have chosen not to respond or to discuss my offer with me. My representatives even offered to meet the board last night. This was ignored, although NESV was invited to attend that meeting."Lim said his interest in buying Liverpool could be revived if "current events cause the circumstances to change".Liverpoolguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Court rules against owners in Liverpool fight A British judge granted an injunction Thursday against the Liverpool owners that could clear the way for the club's sale to the parent company of the Boston Red Sox. cbc.ca |
Almeida snaps Bremen's scoring funk: Bundesliga Hugo Almeida hit a hat trick before being sent off as Werder Bremen beat St. Pauli 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday in Frankfurt to end a three-game run without scoring a goal. cbc.ca |