Giggs in fitness race for Liverpool clash

Stuart Mathieson

March 16, 2010

BACK IN ACTION: Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs is fighting to be fit for Sunday's big Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

United's 11-times title winner has been out of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad since fracturing his arm five weeks ago.

The 36-year-old hurt himself in an accidental collision against Aston Villa at Villa Park last month.

He has missed seven matches, including both AC Milan ties and the Carling Cup final.

But the winger started full- contact training with the Reds first team on Tuesday and the sessions this week will determine whether Fergie will have the bonus of his experience in Sunday's vital lunchtime clash against United's bitter rivals.

Giggs is set to have the plate that was inserted into his arm following the incident removed in the summer.

Since the setback Giggs has been cycling and swimming at United's Carrington training HQ and is now just match sharpness away from a comeback.

If all goes well in training this week Fergie and the Reds medical staff are set to assess him before the Liverpool match at Old Trafford to determine whether he can be included.

But it is looking good for the club's record appearance- maker. His form this term, though only starting in 16 matches, has already earned him a new 12-month contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2011.

Giggs' return would be a major bonus for Fergie who has started the Welshman in the majority of United's heavyweight games this season.

He was in the XI for the matches against Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea and also began both Carling Cup semi-final ties against City.

How important is Giggs to United's season's run-in? Have your say.

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Joe Whittaker (16/03/2010 at 09:12)

great to have you back Ryan when it comes to the run in with the experience and still the class he has, it will be vital to United ,there is nobody better at dealing with it.
United=is life
Blackley M9

Tj_Son, at work (16/03/2010 at 09:13)

I think Nani should keep his place for this one. His confidence on the left side is growning, and have produced a couple of assists lately from that side

Redraw, Belfast (16/03/2010 at 09:23)

If hes fit will he really start, I think not.

stevi, france (16/03/2010 at 09:47)

this is a big big game so I don't think he should start straight from injury, off the bench maybe....you know give him a run out when we're 4-0 up :p

james cromley, stockport (16/03/2010 at 09:52)

Can't wait to see Ryan score the title clincher v Stoke in front of the Stretford End the week before he flies of to Madrid for the final.

trav eller (16/03/2010 at 09:53)

Good to have giggs back, however for the Liverpool game i would keep the general team we've had the last few weeks, especially Nani. If Sir Alex prefers to play Giggs against L'pool, I'd want him to play Nani on the right which gives Valencia a bit of a rest. But hey whatever the team, this one is a must win and we will win. Also bear in mind L'pool have their 2nd leg Europa League game on thursday evening and they're 1-0 down from the 1st leg which means that a) they'll have less time to prepare for the united game b) win or lose they'll be tired (shattered mentally as well if they lose). One thing we musn't do is be complacent, as you can bet your bottom dollar they'll be up for it for this game, and somehow they always find form for this fixture even though they may have played rubbish in preceding games.

This is my first post ever on this site, so apologies in advance if i'm teaching grandma to suck her proverbial eggs!

Traveller

united 2 england 1, fleetwood (16/03/2010 at 10:03)

welcome back sir ryan.

Darryl Titus (16/03/2010 at 10:16)

Great to have you back Sir Ryan, extra experience and composure in the squad is always welcome. For your first post traveller, it was pretty decent! This is my first post as well :)I am looking forward to the big match against the Scousers on Sunday and I agree, United must not let any complacency set in and really win the match no matter what. All games from here on are MUST wins!!

Scholesy passed me the ball.., LU:HG (16/03/2010 at 10:22)

Bionic Giggs. Maybe he could play on forever......

I am GOD, manchester (16/03/2010 at 10:33)

can't wait for sir ryan to get back into the team as i would pick him over anyone else to play in midfield any day of the week, giggs is a legend and with him in the team i know for a fact that we are going to win the league, we are going to win the league anyway but sir ryan will be a massive help in doing so.

#19, here we come.

are you watching loserpool.

the greatest football club on the face of the earth is about to over take your bought and yet highly over-rated and undeserved league title record.

manchester united = 11 premier league and 7 first division titles.
loserpool = 18 first divison and OH WAIT, NO PREMIER LEAGUE TITLES EVER.

MANCHESTER UNITED FOR THE TREBLE.

WE ARE THE ONE AND ONLY CLUB OF MANCHESTER, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH CLUB IN HISTORY AND THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE MANCHESTER, WE ARE UNITED, WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED.

nas99, Stretford (16/03/2010 at 11:32)

I wonder if he will wear a cast like Cantona!

nodge, goa india (16/03/2010 at 12:02)

the midfield will be valencia,fletch,carrick giggsy and nani with giggsy playing further forward to support wassa.

Doc Savage (16/03/2010 at 12:12)

Giggsy won't start and it would convey the wrong message to the rest of the squad who have played admirably in his absence. He will be integrated and therefore perhaps on the bench.

Scholesy passed me the ball.., LU:HG (16/03/2010 at 12:29)

Moving slightly away from the topic in hand, but still on the Liverpool game: Will Gerrard be treated the same as Rio was after the Hull game? It will be interesting to see. I certainly cannot see a United player getting away with flicking the 'v' sign at a ref.

Mark (16/03/2010 at 12:37)

I think he will be on the bench, I think Fergie will go with Berbatov and Rooney for this one, with Park on the left and Nani on the right. Obviously Carrick and Fletch in the middle. This will leave Giggs, Scholes, and Valancia on the bench to change things if needed. Berbatov deserves to keep his spot and he cannot keep dropping him for the big games AND it is about time we took Liverpool on with 4-4-2 instead of 4-5-1, which has not exactly worked the last couple of times we have played them.

barca99, Salford (16/03/2010 at 12:55)

See Gerrard got away with murder again last night, on a plus point it was only Brown so perhaps he should have hit him a bit harder, however lets hope that Gerrard doesn't get a ban as it would be such a shame for him to miss Sunday match when hopefully we will give the Scousers a pasting.

Monkey tennis?, yes please (16/03/2010 at 13:09)

I'm sure my post was here a minute ago... gremlins in the MEN machine i hope (ed?), i'm sure there was no cussing on my part....?? if so, i'm very cussin' sorry!!

I like Ryan, got a lot of time for him, and he's prone to the odd pass that can split a defence apart. I think he'll be more than useful during the run-in, both in the prem and the cl, but should be no more than on the bench on sunday.

Wonder if Nev will be doing his ceremonial duties in front of the the dippers on Sunday too???? Any future contract talks with Nev should include a clause that he has to don the fred the red outfit when he's not playing to avoid any FA sanctions for ill behaviour!!

skh,pj, Malaysia (16/03/2010 at 13:16)

It could be disastrous if Giggs were to start against Liverpool for two reasons.
He had been out for a lengthy period and the team is doing excellently without
him.

I saw Duncan Edwards play, Walton Le Dale (16/03/2010 at 13:34)

SAF, I implore you NOT to start this game with only one man up front. The partnership of the Roonster and Berba was absolutely top class last Sunday. Berba must be feeling so on top of the World after his display, and to 'rest' him risks completely destroying the guy.

I know that this is a well worn adage, but let's go for the jugular! We are MANCHESTER UNITED!! Four four two!!

Now as for the theme of this particular article, I am in agreement with other fellow posters that we would be better served by putting Giggsy on the bench.

I conclude by reiterating "FOUR FOUR TWO"!!!!, but whatever SAF decides, I bow to his far superior knowledge and wisdom. I may not ALWAYS agree with him, but I will ALWAYS give him my one hundred percent backing.

Roll on Sunday!

paul salmon (16/03/2010 at 13:56)

Great to have him back, and he can have a massive impact on the run in. But on Sunday I would expect to see him on the bench. Much as I would like 4-4-2, I expect 4-5-1, with Rooney up front alone. SAF has got it right so often who am I to question it?

Lets just hammer the scousers!!!

Paul, Whalley Range

Raju, Katmandu (16/03/2010 at 14:19)

Traveller,

Welcome abroad :).

Sterling Dingleberry, Useless Washington, DC - USA (16/03/2010 at 14:24)

Why is this thug Gerrard consistently allowed to get away with physical attacks on other human beings, whether on the football pitch or otherwise?

Drago 34 (16/03/2010 at 14:38)

OMFG can't belive that Gerrard has escaped an FA charge for last nights forearm smash on Brown.Absoulutely pathetic the FA! How can Ferdinand get a FOUR game ban for what he did against Fagan yet Gerrard get absoulutely NOTHING for that disgusting incident? I seem to remember Macherano getting away scott free earlier in the season for exactly the same offence that Rio got banned for.Unberliveable! This has now just 100% confirmed to me that the FA hate United.What complete jokes they really are.What would the FA have done if it were Rooney? 3 game ban.Ferdinand? 3 game ban.Vidic? 3 game ban. Gerrard? ABSOULUTELY NOTHING.Pathetic!

Monkey tennis?, yes please (16/03/2010 at 15:39)

Not seen Gerhards elbow incident so can't really pass comment, but judging by the steam coming out of Drago's ears, it must have been akin to cage fighting! Ruddy scandalous.

Maybe karma will deal him a hand in the europa game...! a bit of ethereal justice always goes a long way in my book.

Gilly, Belgium (16/03/2010 at 15:48)

We needto be top of our game against Liverpool
United for ever !
Welcome back gigssy , but he should be on the bench and we should play with two up front !

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