Stuart Mathieson

March 31, 2009

BEN Foster has got the whip hand for both United and England, according to ex-Reds number one Alex Stepney.

He is still not first-choice for either club or country, with Edwin van der Sar and David James blocking his path, but he is tipped to take over both in the near future.

And Stepney is urging Foster to stay patient and not feel like he needs to move to take the England jersey.

"For Ben at the moment it is like a racehorse coming round Tattenham Corner in the derby and he's only got the straight ahead," said former England keeper Stepney.

"He may have a couple of horses just ahead of him but he's the one with the pace, stamina and age advantage."

Foster's blossoming early career was slowed up by a cruciate knee ligament injury and he is anxious to make up for lost time.

Choice

But Van der Sar is still Sir Alex Ferguson's first choice and the 38-year-old Dutchman has signed on for another 12 months with the Reds.

Foster has edged ahead as James' closest rival for the England jersey but boss Fabio Capello is keen for his squad members to be playing regularly.

But European Cup-winner Stepney, who won only one full England cap but was a member of Sir Alf Ramsey's 1970 World Cup squad, is urging Foster to consider the unfortunate example of another United predecessor.

"Ben should remember what happened to Gary Bailey," he said. "Gary was suffering with a knee injury at United in the run up to the 1986 World Cup and he rushed back at club level to be ready for England.

"He was never going to play because Peter Shilton was number one and should have taken it slowly. He could have sacrificed Mexico, sat tight and then he could well have been number one by Italy in 1990.

"But Gary pushed it and came back too early. He went to the World Cup but injured his knee further in training. It finished his career. He never recovered and retired a year later at the age of 29.

"I can understand Ben getting impatient. The fact is he has a 38-year-old in front of him at United and a 38-year-old in front of him for England. What a wonderful position to be in!

Prospects

"If he had no prospects of becoming the number one at United then he'd have to go. But that is not the case. Sir Alex Ferguson has said he is the future and I have no doubts he will be United's goalkeeper for many years to come.

"He is at the greatest club in the world and is poised for a long career there. Ben may have started this season as number three behind Edwin and Tomasz Kuszczak but there is no doubt in my mind he is the number two now. Next season he will be pushing to be number one.

"He has come into the big time late like I did myself and having also had the injuries slowing his progress he will be wanting to push on quickly now because he will think time is flashing by. But I urge him to be patient."

Foster is the front runner in a United-dominated fight back by English goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Only seven English goalkeepers are Premier League regulars. But Old Trafford's goalkeeper coach Eric Steele, who has championed Ben Foster's England cause, insists the future is bright.

"I do not like the fact that people decry the English goalkeeping situation. It really annoys me," he said.

"I really believe we are in good shape for the first time for some time and I hope Ben Foster is going to be a major feature of that.

"Goalkeepers develop late and there is no reason why the likes of Paul Robinson and Scot Carson who have had dips in form cannot come again. Likewise Chris Kirkland at Wigan still has a chance after injury setbacks.

"But the next generation is the likes of Ben Foster. I also worked at City for 18 months and although Joe Hart has been ousted by Shay Given, he is still a fantastic talent.

Taste

"Joe has had a taste of the full England set up but he can go to the Under-21s European Championship in the summer and have a really good tournament.

"I think in Foster and Hart we have two of the best young goalkeepers in the country.

"Underneath that we also have Tom Heaton, who is on loan at Cardiff, Ben Amos, who I had no qualms about being played in the Carling Cup earlier this season against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford and Sam Johnstone. Sam is only 15 and a half but has been promoted to the England Under-17s.

"We have great young prospects coming through the Academy and that is down to the work of Richard Hartis and Tony Coton before I came here.

"United will have a major say in the England goalkeeping situation. These are exciting times for me and the goalkeeping department."

Cliff Butler

March 30, 2009
GARY Neville provided a welcome boost for United ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Old Trafford showdown with Aston Villa when he came through a 58-minute workout against Newcastle United at St James’s Park last night.

But the Reds young goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zeiler wasn't so lucky, breaking an arm in the clash.

The United captain negotiated a more than useful stint in what was a lively encounter against the Magpies and could well find himself facing Martin O’Neill’s team at the weekend.

It was his first match action in more than two months, and he looked his old self, directing operations from the right-back berth.

There was one anxious moment in the 21st minute when he was clattered by Wesley Ngo Baheng, but was back on his feet in time to see the Magpies’ striker booked. for his misdemeanour.

He left the scene, 13 minutes in the second half, to be replaced by Wes Brown’s younger brother Reece.

Bad news for the Reds was the confirmation that Zeiler, forced off in the 31st minute, has a broken right arm.

Federico Macheda put United in front from the penalty spot, in the 13th minute, after Brazilian international defender Claudio Cacapa had handledin the area.

Newcastle grabbed the equaliser shortly before the break when Cisco Tejada scored from the spot after he is progress had been halted by a couple of United defenders.

Mark Doninger put the home side into the lead four minutes after the break, but Macheda levelled found the net again 15 minutes from the end to put United back in the game.

Danny Guthrie fired past United’s substitute keeper Conor Devlin, in the 83rd minute, but United refused to accept to defeat and with a minute to go Macheda scored to complete his hat-trick and give the Reds a share of the reward.

UNITED: Zieler (Devlin 31), Neville (Brown 58), Dudgeon, Eckersley, De Laet, James, Eikrem, Possebon, Macheda, Martin, Stewart (Norwood 69). Subs: Galbraith, Wootton

Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo insists he has no problem with being a terrace target, claiming taunts spur him on.

The United star regularly incurs the wrath of rival supporters, with his on-field antics doing little to endear him to opposing fans.

However, the Portugal international remains unfazed by the abuse and says he would never let it affect his game.

He also claims to be unperturbed by the rough treatment he sometimes receives from uncompromising defenders.

"I like people whistling and booing," Ronaldo told Zoo magazine.

"It's normal for fans to do that. There's nothing I can do and it doesn't matter anyway.

"I have to concentrate on the game, so I don't think about that sort of thing.

"On the pitch I'm a target, but it is difficult to avoid these things. I don't believe that people want to hurt me on purpose.

"In my experience, the game just doesn't happen that way. Truthfully, I've never had any serious problems."

Incredible

For now, Ronaldo is more concerned with helping United re-write the history books and claim an unprecedented quintuple.

"All the guys have to continue playing like we know we can," he said.

"But no, we can't relax. I know I don't like to. I've a long road ahead of me and I want to be in this position, winning awards and trophies while I can.

"Every game is important because if we win, it improves our confidence. I'm at a club that guarantees trophies and that makes me happy. When we compete for a cup, we know we can win it.

"Last year we did the double of Premier League and UEFA Champions League and this year we have a chance to win five.

"We're doing well in all competitions and it would be incredible if we could win them all. We have to continue working as we have been."

Jonny Evans does not expect Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to slip into retirement any time soon.

The legendary Red Devils manager continues to set the standard at home and abroad and has offered no suggestion that he is even contemplating standing down from his Old Trafford post.

His son Darren Ferguson has hinted that his father would be prepared to bow out next summer should he secure a 19th league title for United and overtake Liverpool's record haul.

However, Evans is not so sure that a man who has been involved in football all his working life is ready to slope off into the shadows just yet.

"People have been saying this for years about the manager, but as long as he's feeling good, he will want to continue," the United centre-half told Sky Sports News.

Evans has broken into Ferguson's first-team plans this season, after previously being farmed out on loan in order to gain valuable experience.

He has played a prominent role in a campaign which still sees United pursuing an unprecedented quintuple.

Rest

The 21-year-old has also become a key player for Northern Ireland this term and he admits that the pressures of competing on so many fronts have started to catch up with him of late.

"I have enjoyed having a few days off, but once you have had two or three days off you are just dying to get back into it again," he said.

Evans has helped his country to the top of 2010 World Cup qualifying Group 3, six games into their campaign.

With Northern Ireland having failed to qualify for a major tournament since 1986, Evans is desperate to secure a spot in South Africa, especially as a number of his team-mates at club level are likely to be flying out with England.

"They [England] failed to qualify for a major tournament last year, but they're doing really well in their group this year," he said.

"It would mean a lot to some of the younger players in their team and it would be an unbelievable achievement for a team like Northern Ireland."

Manchester United Under 18 boss Paul McGuinness believes that Reece Brown possesses the same attributes as older brother Wes.

The 17-year-old still has a long way to go if he is to emulate his older sibling.

Having risen through the youth ranks at the club Brown senior made his debut against Leeds in 1998.

To date the 29-year-old has played 316 times for the club, picking up five Premier League medals, two UEFA Champions League trophies, two FA Cups and one Carling Cup along the way.

The right-back has also represented England 21 times but despite being a tough act to follow, McGuinness sees similarities in Reece.

Brown junior only signed professional forms in July last year but has already taken great strides with the club's youth team.

"Reece will obviously forever be saddled with the tag of being Wes Brown's younger brother," he told the club's official website.

Striking resemblance

"When people see Reece, they see a striking resemblance, both in terms of looks and style of play. He has the same sort of attributes.

"He's good in the air, quick and he's a big lad. Reece has settled in nicely.

"He's been at the club since a very young age, but the start he has made to his professional career has been really good.

"He has concentrated right from the start, which is a feature we really wanted him to look at."

Wayne Rooney has revealed that he wants to fulfil his boyhood dream and add the FA Cup to his Old Trafford trophy collection.

United take on Everton in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday 19 April, with Chelsea and Arsenal fighting it out in the other last four tie the day before.

Rooney was on the losing side in extra time of the final last season against Chelsea, and also tasted defeat against Arsenal on penalties in 2005.

Those experiences merely mean Rooney will redouble his efforts to win the trophy this term.

“I’m desperate to win the FA Cup,” Wayne told Inside United.

“If I’m honest, it’s the trophy I wanted to win the most when I was younger. Like most kids, I grew up dreaming of scoring the winner in a cup final at Wembley.

“Also, as an Everton fan I wasn’t under any illusions that we were good enough to win the league, so the cup competitions were much more realistic.

“The FA Cup has such a big history, and that’s stuck with me all these years. I’ve played in two finals with United and lost them both and that’s a horrible feeling. I really want to win it this season. That would be a dream come true.”

The 23 year-old will hopefully prove to be a pivotal figure for the Reds this season - and, Rooney hopes, for many more years to come.

“I hope I’m still at United when I’m the same age as guys like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville," he added.

"I’ve always said that as as long as Unietd want me, I’m happy to stay at the club. I don’t want to leave. I love United and I have no reason to think about moving. I’m sure I’ll be here for a long time."

Ji-sung Park was delighted to pick up ManUtd.com’s Player of the Month award for March and vowed to improve further as the title race heats up.

“It’s a great pleasure for me,” Park told ManUtd.com from South Korea’s training camp, where he’s preparing for a crunch World Cup qualifier against North Korea.

“It’s the first time I’ve won Player of the Month since joining United and I agree that this season has been one of the best on a personal level.

“The best thing in March is that we progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals; the worst moments were losing against Liverpool and Fulham.”

Park was a deserving recipient of the March award after fine performances against Newcastle, Internazionale and Liverpool. He also scored a superb solo goal at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup sixth round.

But despite his good form, the South Korean insists there’s more to come.

“I know I can improve, especially in the goals department,” he said. “I’d like to thank all the fans who voted for me and I promise I’ll do my best and try to perform even better during the last few months of the season.”