Manchester United Fans Club

Steve Bruce has urged Birmingham’s players to repeat their performance at Liverpool in today tea time clash with Man Utd. Bruce, former United rock-solid center back is unconcerned his players came in for criticism for their determined and dogged goalless draw performance with Rafael Benitez’s side.

Bruce will have to make one change from the Liverpool line-up with midfielder Borja Oubina out for the season with damaged knee ligaments.

Fabrice Muamba is expected to come back in the middle after being rested for the last two games although Bruce admitted Neil Danns was also an option after being impressed with him during the 3-0 Carling Cup defeat at Ewood Park.

Striker Mikael Forssell will have to be replaced on the bench as he is to undergo surgery on Monday to cure a hernia problem. (more…)

Owen Hargreaves could be on the bench for United’s tea time trip to Birmingham City later today. The former Bayern Munich midfield has not played since the 1-0 win over Sunderland at the beginning of this month.

According to Sir Alex, Hargreaves has been training well over the last few days after picking up a thigh strain whist on international duty with England. “He might be a sub or we might hold him back for the Roma game”, said Ferguson.

Louis Saha is determined to prove the doubters wrong after finally overcoming his latest injury battle.

The French striker was unable to play a full part in the final couple of months of last season’s title-winning campaign because of a knee problem.

An operation ensued over the summer which kept him out of action until the beginning of this month, when he made a goalscoring return against Sunderland. He netted again last weekend, converting a last minute penalty to seal a 2-0 win over Chelsea.

Saha says he is beginning to feel like his old self once more and is hoping to silence the critics who believe he doesn’t have the mental strength to succeed.

“Anyone who says I am not willing to play until I am 100 per cent fit is not telling the truth,” he insists. “I have never refused to play for the team, yet last season I was hearing claims about me not being psychologically committed.

“The people who criticise me don’t know that three years ago I was playing games despite having a knee that I couldn’t bend more than 90 degrees.

“I now feel I am close to last year’s top form,” he adds. “I am not far away and the more minutes I gain on the pitch, the better I will play.

“My aim this year is to stay fit and show people the real Louis Saha.”

With several big names including Wayne Rooney not playing, Sir Alex Ferguson sent out a team full of emerging talents youngster to shine on the first-team stage in front 75,000 fans. Sir Alex admitted he was “shocked and flabbergasted” by United’s performance in the 2-0 defeat to Coventry City in Carling Cup third round tie.

“You take it on the chin,” he told MUTV. “That was an absolutely flabbergasting performance, I didn’t expect that. I’m not interested in giving reasons, it was just a bad performance. We have shown great hope in the young players. It’s a big shock to us all.” (more…)