MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will wait for the return of Dimitar Berbatov from Bulgaria before finalising his line-up for the Old Trafford encounter with Bolton.
Aside from two games for his country, Berbatov has also been with his partner, who has just given birth to the couple’s child, so Ferguson will need to ensure his £30.75million record signing is in the right frame of mind to face Gary Megson’s side.
Wayne Rooney (calf) is definitely out, while United also have doubts over Darren Fletcher but Michael Owen returns after a groin problem and Edwin van der Sar will make his first appearance of the season after suffering two broken fingers during a pre-season trip to Munich.
Ahead of the game Bolton boss Gary Megson has already claimed referee Mark Clattenburg is going to be put under undue pressure, having sent Ferguson to the stands at the Reebok Stadium two years ago when the Trotters recorded a rare win.
The entire subject of match officials was off limits to Ferguson at Friday's press conference, although it is known the United manager has complied with the Football Association's request for his observations on the controversial post-match opinion of Alan Wiley - for which the Scot has subsequently apologised.
Megson's fears do not appear to have damaged Ferguson's opinion of him.
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Although a close friend of Sam Allardyce, who left such an imprint on Bolton, Ferguson knows what a big job Megson took on when he succeeded Sammy Lee - and he just cannot understand why the Bolton faithful keep giving him so much stick.
"Gary Megson has had criticism, which beggars belief," said Ferguson.
"Bolton are a better team than people give them credit for.
"They have always been a determined side. But when Sam was there he elevated them to a higher level. When he left, he was a big man to replace.
"But Megson has kept them up. They are physical and determined - and they never give in."
Sam Ricketts is Gary Megson’s only fresh injury concern ahead of the game.
Defender Ricketts is a doubt after pulling out of Wales’ World Cup qualifiers with an ankle problem.
Johan Elmander returns to the Wanderers attack after missing the 2-2 draw with Tottenham with a hamstring injury.
Sean Davis and Joey O’Brien are both long-term absentees with knee problems.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O’Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Owen, Welbeck, Macheda.
Bolton Wanderers (from): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, A O’Brien, Samuel, Robinson, M Davies, Muamba, Cohen, McCann, Gardner, Taylor, K Davies, Klasnic, Lee, Elmander.
United league form: WWWWD
Bolton league form: LWDWD
Key opponent: Kevin Davies - year in year out one of the most solid performers in the Premier League
Prediction: United 2 Bolton 0 - Van der Sar's return should herald a more routine day for the Reds
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United v Bolton: Preview
October 16, 2009
Comments
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we'll win 3-0 those big defenders are made for owen
I'm happy with The Berb & Owen to start up top with Danny WellGood & Macheda gagging for some action from the bench.
With the game in Russia on Wednesdsay there's sure to be a couple of surprises. Wes must be considered for some game time soon I would have thought. Will it be Scholes & Anderson in CM with Fletch & Michelle being the pairing on Wednesday? Take your pick out of Nani, Valencia, Park & Giggs out wide.
Rooney/Berba are 2 great Strikers but never really look like a partnership IMO!
In the pre-season games the Berba/Owen partnership looked like they were really clicking together!!!
Could be interesting to see them together again?
Mickeylove - The Crescent.
With Rooney out I imagine the team could be this...
VDS, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Anderson, Berbatov
Let's hope the lads are awake for this one as the first 50 mins against Sunderland they were sleepwalking through the match.
100% effort for 100% of the time by all the players would ensure the points. if we go out like we did in our last home game thinking the game is already won and try and play in 2nd we may get a shock
Interesting referee appointment, Mark Clattenburg.
As with every game, if our attitude is correct we should win, but as we have seen this season with the lads, sometimes the attitude is quite lethargic (Burnley & Sunderland) and we get ourselves into trouble
However, I am fully confident tomorrow will be a comprehensive win and I see it being a 4 or 5 goal rout!!
My team would be...
VDS, WES, RIO, VIDA, FABIO, NANI, ANDO, CARRICK, GIGGS, BERBA & OWEN
subs...
BEN, SCHOLESY, KIKO, NEV, PARK, WELBECK, VALENCIA
WHY OH WHY IS TOSIC NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN THE MATCH DAY SQUAD??? THE WAY THIS GIFTED KID IS GETTING TREATED REALLY DOES BEGGAR BELIEF??? HE COULD DO WITH GAME TIME...
Mickeylove - agreed. Berba and Owen looked good. ideally i'd like Giggs, Rooney (already injured), Fletcher and Rio rested for the game in Moscow so they're fresh for the big one on Sunday
Well,whoever plays...as long as Fergie has had a quick word in Clattenberg's shell like and gives us..3 penalties,27 free kicks on the edge of the box,reduce Bolton to 8 men,play 137 minutes in total and finally in the last minute the ref accidently diverts a touch flag bound shot into the top corner!
Oh..how the whingers will whinge!
And bitter ted knott and cathy telly will have more reason to vent their spleen! 28-0.
ha ha lets see ho the rags go on now with berbaflop and the old man up front cant wait
i agree with neal 07, south stand lower i have seen tosic playing for his country in south africa great talent who certainly deserves a chance would love to see him playing against Bolton
blue moon risin , manchester
16/10/2009 at 21:40
Neither can we, they've been mustard when playing together before.
welcome comments saying berba & owen are not up for it....they shall make their detractors eat their words and come bac from the dead;defy convention in True Man U tradition, cos thats the MAN U CULTURE from the manager to the players to groundsmen..."blue moon rising"?-how? by stomping on opponent cheeks or relying on opponents mistakes?Now thats what i call a good one ...KEEP THE FAITH,L LIVE SPIRIT OF '99!!!
Bolton have aspirations United have expectations. You have to live up to expectation!! No pressure then. Ha Ha. I feel an upset coming. Come on you whites!!
Fergie will need to be on his guard with Clattenburg after he sent Fergie to the stands after he had booked 7 of our players.
When you have ex Refs like Winter.
That clown Jeff Winter joined in, saying Fergie was 'a bully and a coward', although anyone who has been unfortunate enough to stumble over this ex-ref's abusive remarks on his website might wonder if he is qualified to discuss matters of decorum.
One thing I can tell you about Fergie is he does have a soft centre my Friend had a friend who had been very ill and wrote to Fergie asking if he could send him a birthday card to cheer him up.
He sent him a box of things along with a card signed by him.
I had a client young Lad died of Cancer I spoke with Fergie and he sent his family many things,along with the show come on down who sent his family a video of their son who appeared on the show.
ha ha lets see ho the rags go on now with berbaflop and the old man up front cant wait
blue moon risin , manchester
16/10/2009 at 21:40 - STILL MORE INTERESTED HERE ON THE REDS PAGES I SEE - HOW BORING IT MUST BE TO SUPPORT A TEAM OF HOPEFULS - I HEAR CITY ARE 'HOPING' TO INVEST IN A TROPHY CABINET - HISTORY SAYS - 'NOAH' TOOK CITYS LAST TROPHY CABINET ON HIS 'ARK' FOR SAFE KEEPING - AND THEY HAVE NEVER NEED IT SINCE !!
I see the inevitable bitter comes on here & comments on United's team selection. Last time I looked they had their own scribble- sheet. Whatever the result- and it will be a good one, cos even if his thoughts on the strikers had any truth in them, there's quality all through our side to score whatever's needed- it will be better than his own team (oh, did I use that word, sorry!) will get on Sunday.
3-0 to United*********