Rio return boosts Reds

Simon Stone

April 18, 2007

CLOSE TO FITNESS: Rio Ferdinand

RIO FERDINAND and John O'Shea will be back on Saturday to ease the defensive crisis threatening to wreck United's season.

Already without five senior defenders, plus goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who was sidelined with a combination of back and facial injuries, United then lost Patrice Evra 20 minutes into the 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

Evra will be sent for a scan on the injury he suffered as a result of Colin Kazim-Richards' ugly lunge but it already appears certain the Frenchman will miss Saturday's home encounter with Middlesbrough.

However, at least Ferdinand and O'Shea should be fit to face Boro as the Red Devils seek a win which will leave them requiring a minimum of nine points to seal the championship.

"Rio and John will be back on Saturday, so that should give us a bit more strength and experience in the back line," said Ferguson.

"We ended up with two full-backs (Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson) who are midfield players. It was a great challenge for them but they came through it well."

In Wayne Rooney, though, United have a man coming back to top form.

Overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo for much of the campaign, Rooney's superb second-half effort, which followed up Michael Carrick's third-minute opener, took his tally for the season to 20, just one behind Ronaldo.

However, while Ferguson has already been forced to shell out £400 to Ronaldo, who has long since exceeded the 15 goals required to win his pre-season wager with the United boss, Rooney still has some work to do.

"He promised me he would get 25," laughed Ferguson.

"Maybe I am going to get the money back I lost to Cristiano."

Rooney is hitting the goal trail at just the right time and with Alan Smith producing another spirited performance, the absence of Louis Saha is not being noticed too much.

The Frenchman has not featured since the away win at Liverpool at the beginning of last month, and Ferguson seemed exasperated when asked when the striker would return.

"Louis," he said puffing his cheeks out, "I just don't know."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Duncan, London (18/04/2007 at 11:57)

Great news Rio and O'Shea is back. I am gutted about the "news" about Saha though. It must be hugely frustrating getting so many injuries. Fingers crossed he manages to recover for the matches against AC.

saha rocks, work (18/04/2007 at 11:59)

Thank God for that. Yesterday confirmed that it's no wonder SAF never played Heinze in the centre before. As Paul Parker remarked on MUTV post-match, Heinze's too impatient and too rash in his tackling and that's dangerous in central defence. As for those hoping for a favour from West Ham tonight, forget it! Their confidence has gone and they're as good as down. Moreover, Chelsea will NOT drop points against anyone. A look at Arsenal yesterday (seriously demotivated) confirmed my suspicion that Chelsea will beat them without too much trouble. So we can't rely on anybody else except us. We have to win ALL our remining matches and then go to Stamford Bridge and put in a do everything in our power to stop them beating us.

george (18/04/2007 at 12:01)

The more fit players the better.Silvestre is out for the season but there's hope for the rest.
To a man the players are sounding positive.Banish the blue meanies!

Anthony, Hamilton,Ontario,Canada (18/04/2007 at 12:04)

I can't recall of any team losing the entire defensive line. The fill-ins are doing a fine job. United are attacking more than before ,it seems, and that took the pressure off the defence, but with the away games, plus the Milan series, I wish to see Gary Neville back.

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 12:22)

You seem like a worried man, Saha Rocks. But luckily I can reassure you.

If we win our remaining games up until we face Chavski, then the title is ours. I know that they don't know when they're beaten but I can assure you there's no way they'll beat us 17 nil and that's what they would have to do to win the title!

Speaking of your namesake, what's going on there? That's a bit of a worry. And has anyone got any news on Park? We could really do with some fresh options up front.

It's amazing the difference in the amount of injuries between the first and second half of the season. The number of players we've had out over the last 4 months is as bad as any injury crisis I can remember.

At least if/when we do win the league noone can say we were lucky!

saha rocks, work (18/04/2007 at 12:41)

Mick, SAF's reply to the question on Saha's fitness was genuine in that he cannot really tell when he's back, given that it's a hamstring injury. Apparently, Louis's not too keen on risking it by coming back too early (sensible, imo). So all this is erring on the side of caution. Nothing sinister in it as some opinionists are implying. As for Park, SAF said he's still having trouble in his knee so that could be a bit longer term.

Sterling, Salford (18/04/2007 at 12:57)

Mick, I might be being stupid (it has been known!!) but isn't Chelsea our second to last game of the season? In which case we'd have to beat every team before the Chelsea game plus West Ham on the last day of the season to ensure the league title is ours barring the 17-0 defeat by Chelsea that you rightly suggest is a little unlikely! The injuries are a real concern at the moment, we've had bad luck ever since Mourinho claimed we'd been lucky this season. We're coping at the moment but I'm a little concerned with the defensive situation. Fingers crossed though. And yes, where is Park...he was playing really well before he picked up the knock on his knee and could be a key asset against Milan with his Euro experience. I'll be praying for the unlikely from West Ham tonight...although I don't expect much!

Andreja, Belgrade (18/04/2007 at 13:05)

Any news on Vidic status????

Sterling, Salford (18/04/2007 at 13:10)

One other thing - SAF's Saha comment (I didn't actually see it) was a bit strange last night by all accounts. I think he may have come to the conclusion that while Saha is an excellent player for us when fit, he's just too often on the treatment table and not there when we need him. Such a view might dictate some summer transfer action but I'll stop short of the silly fantasy football style recommendations of this player and that. We'll have 3 months of that come May!!

Alias Smith, over the moon (18/04/2007 at 13:13)

As I understand it, VdS, Rio, Nev and JOS should be back for Saturday. Park and Saha are 50:50 for then, hopefully back next week at latest.

Macca, Cornwall (18/04/2007 at 13:23)

does fergies expression and answer about saha suggest he is maybe getting a little bit fed up of saha being injured. personally think we should offload him in the summer, i know the injuries are not his fault but they are not ours either, and even when he is fully fit i dont think he is good enough to be a Manchester United number 9. i expect a few will disagree but thats just my opinion. as for the injuries, obviously good to see rio back, wes browns performance last night showed how good rio actually is, he wouldnt have broken into sweat last night. all iv heard is mourinho talk about how fantastic his side has been this season as they have lost key players in joe cole, terry and cech, but we have had more 1st team players injured than them at the same time, so he can stick his lame excuses up his a***.

bit worried by everton away think it will be a bit sticky (sorry) but hopefully we can get a good result there and then the league will be ours...

F.Thys, Belgium (18/04/2007 at 13:29)

Mick and Saha Rocks, you're
both right and I also believe we have to win all our matches untill the Chelsea game and then finish it off againt the Hammers. Mick, just for the record, it is not a 17-0 win, but a 9-0 Chelsea win against us that is required to pip us on goal difference, albeit equally unlikely.

Paulo (18/04/2007 at 13:41)

the simple fact of it is if we win every remaining game except for Chelsea, title's ours. if we beat Chelsea, title's ours. if we draw against Chelsea, title's ours. we are definitely in a more favourable position. my only worry is city.

Justin The Great, manchester (18/04/2007 at 13:58)

great stuff - the team is playing great right now and to be honest Saha's situation should be a lesson to all senior players - if you are not going to win the games you are not going to play. does anyone else recon that Neville will have a bit of a hard time getting his place back?? weve played some beautiful football without some of our "key" players i.e. 7 goals against a top euro team without scholes neville saha and two other would-be key players ruud and roy. young blood mixed with top class experience is the key to a robust team

chris, oxford (18/04/2007 at 14:09)

Have to agree with you about Saha Macca, I also think it's time to cash in on him because (like it or not) he is a liability with the amount of time he has spent on the treatment table and IMHO he is a good player, not a great one.

Keane was right Sell Ronny (18/04/2007 at 14:17)

The injuries are leaving us on a knifedge - NOT IN THE PREMIERSHIP MAYBE but a second string defence will not do against Milan or Chelski in either cups. The Saha situation sounds longer term (he's athletic like Henry so leg-related injury is always more likely) Neville wont be match-fit against Milan and Rio is pushing his body too far and too quickly if he really did have a groin strain. As for Vidic there is no treatment for a broken collar bone - just a sling to restrict movement and this takes 5-7 weeks and thats the problem because it genuinely needs lack of movement to heal (something which a full-blooded full back simply cannot give). My guess is no Vidic this season unless Fergie gives him a 5 minute spell at the end of the Cup Final (if were leading 3-0) !!!!!!

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 14:19)

Good point, Sterling, it's me that's being stupid. I forgot about the Hammers.

I keep hoping that they will either be relegated or safe before that game, so it's a meaningless game (for them!)

So long as they have something to play for they could spring a nasty surprise.

Bad news about Park, then. I've been thinking that Mourinho must have sold his soul to the devil for a while now. Chavski seem to keep getting lucky breaks and their players make Lazarus-like recoveries from savage injuries.

It's a good point that our horrendous run of injuries started as soon as Mourinho made those comments. Coincidence? I think not...

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2007 at 14:22)

Good point, F. Thys, 9 nil it is. Jaysus, I'm making an awful eejit of myself on this thread!

de Meester, netherlands (18/04/2007 at 16:42)

I am having nighgtmares about who is next to be injured!
Six defenders out, two of whom are kaput, two expected to "be back soon", & Evra just back now injured - again (diabolical challenge!), cannot remeber them giving chav$ki$ a hard time!; as for Nevs - who knows; I am going to bring my football shoes over with me next game!
No seriously, I think we'll pull through!
As long as we have at least 4 FIT defenders the other players will have to do their best.
It's at a very exciting time and all a little bit concerning! (being an understatement!)
Poor chel$ki had a massive list of two defenders injured and EVERYONE knew it!
Workmanlike - subdued performance last evening, but hey 2 points gained!
What got into SAF at the end, thought subbing Giggsy was a bit OTT!!
As long as Rio's available for next tuesday I don't mind him missing middlesbro!
Up The Reds

Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (18/04/2007 at 17:01)

great news to have rio and oshea back. With them two back, i'm pretty confident that alongside brown and heinze , the defence will be solid enough to cope with the likes of boro, milan and chelsea and even the 'mighty' city.

lets hope evra gets back quick and that his injury isn't too bad. Saying that, i think fletch did a very good job at RB, and even richardon didn't look a bad player at LB in the last game. The players who have come in have done really well, although they would most likely struggle against tougher opposition.

Up front, losing saha has fortunately become less of an issue with the return to form of both rooney and smith. With the way they have both played recently, saha hasn't been missed, even though he was instrumental in our surge to the top of the league first half of the season. Having rooney and ronaldo on form at the same time is exactly what we have all been hoping for all season. If they can keep up the momentum, they will certainly help ease the pressure of our defence during the run in.

I know some have talked about offloading saha in the summer because he's injury prone etc. I don't disagree that he is injury prone, and perhaps fergie has come to realise that he can not rely on saha to spear head our attack next season. I do however think that he should stay at the club, because although we may not get a full season out of him, he would still make an excellent squad player....when fit. With his pace and the way he plays ( abit like giggsy), he seems to be more prone to injuries. We have still got quite alot of good performances out of him this season though. Fergie should and probably will buy another striker to fight with smith and saha for a place alongside rooney.

now to saturday and the league title. 5 more games. 3 wins and a couple of draws should be enough to see us thro. i think we should manage that, don't you?

COLIN, CANADA, Canada (18/04/2007 at 17:07)

Sylvestre is gone for the season as is Vidic. I say this about Vidic because of the nature of the injury. Complete rest while the bone re sets then back training then game fitness. I think we are oput of tim e for him. We should really be getting reports on players like Park and Nev because we don't mind them taking an extra week when it's Middlesbrough but after that, every game is a cup final. Thank god we finish with the hammers who should be done and dusted by the time they arrive at OT. 2-1 Chelsea tonight. Brown would have got the full treatment from Fergie after last night's game and Gabby is a very lucky boy. Roo might have got a bit of a kicking from Fergie as well.

United<3, Norway (18/04/2007 at 17:17)

Mick and Southern Red, you can just relax;) First of all, Rooney picked up his 5th yellow card in the PL and 7th yellow card in all FA competitions. Some may have suggested he should have been banned for the Boro-game. This IS NOT correct. The FA gives ¿yellow-card-amnesty¿ at the end of the season. The rules are as following:

- Until the end of February it will be given a ONE-game ban after 5 yellow cards.

- If you pick up 10 yellow cards before April 15th, it will mean a TWO-game ban.

- And if you pick up 15 yellow cards by the end of the season, you¿ll get a THREE-game ban.

BUT no United-player is in danger of reaching 15 yellow cards! No wonder why Rooney was in the referee¿s face all night long yesterday..;) Vida has 8 yellow cards in all national tournaments, while Scholes and Rooney have 7.

NB! KIERAN RICHARDSON HAS MANAGED TO PICK UP 5 YELLOW CARDS IN 9+7 (sub) GAMES THIS SEASON¿¿LOL! Anyone interested???...

Source: premierleague.com

Magic Mike, Middleton (18/04/2007 at 20:07)

both are bobbins anyway

Demo, Glossop (18/04/2007 at 21:07)

very gud to know that rooney isnt in danger of a two game ban as we really need him in the run in and especially as he is hitting form. come on west ham 2-1 at the second

Steve Barker (18/04/2007 at 21:39)

Good job too! Although Boro' are being beaten tonight, I think they (as everyone else does!!!) will up the tempo for Saturday. I am worried now because, as well as we have played, Chelski have started to hit top form again, looks like they have well beaten the hammers in their back yard, something we couldn't manage!
Oh, and just to make things even more fun for next week, Milan have hit the goals as well! My heart would love us to win the Treble, but right now I would settle for the PL.

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