Manchester United Fans Club

Tomasz Kuszczak will continue goalkeeping duties for United against Wigan Athletic on Saturday in the absence of Edwin van der Sar, and the Polish shot-stopper is relishing a run in the first team.

After replacing the Dutchman, who came off with a toe injury against Birmingham, Kuszczak went on to keep Steve Bruce’s men out before earning a clean sheet against Roma. With van der Sar not expected back until United take on Aston Villa, 25-year-old Tomasz is determined to prove himself.

“I know I am a good goalkeeper, I just need the opportunity to show it,” he said. “I don’t think about how long I have got to do that. Edwin is injured at the moment, so I have the chance to play in big games and I need to do well.

“I want to play more,” he added. “That is why it’s important for me to perform in every single game. I enjoy every game at Old Trafford because the fans are great and when you have a full stadium, it is dream to play there.

“I have been happy with my form and feel I did well in pre-season. I was determined to fight for my place but, unfortunately, I started the season on the bench again. Most importanly, the team is in good shape and we are keeping clean sheets and defending well.”

Manchester United suffered yet another injury setback in Michael Carrick. He is out for up to six weeks with an elbow injury, ruling him out of England’s next two Euro 2008 qualifiers. Carrick fractured his right elbow during the latter stages of Champions League victory over Roma at Old Trafford.

Although he appeared fine immediately after the game, x-rays have revealed the full extent of the problem, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson facing a selection headache for Saturday encounter with Wigan as Owen Hargreaves has been ruled out as well with growing problem of tendinitis in his knee. Owen Hargreaves will be missing for the next four weeks.

The Red Devils will only have Paul Scholes as a recognized central midfield for next month since Darren Fletcher is also sidelined by a knee injury. However, with a two-week international break and a free midweek at the end of this month, caused by the shock Carling Cup exit to Coventry, the damage to United’s prospects is not as serious as it might have been.

While Carrick will probably not be in action until the trip to Bolton on November 24, Hargreaves could return for the key trip to Arsenal three weeks earlier. It means Ferguson will shuffle his pack for the next four games, including the Champions League visit to Dynamo Kiev on October 23.

Brazilian new boy Anderson is capable of playing in central midfield but a more likely alternative would be John O’Shea, who himself has only just recovered from a knee injury. The Irishman starred at right-back against Roma this week but Wes Brown is not due to be sidelined for long, Gary Neville is about to begin his comeback from long-standing injury and Ferguson could also turn to rookie Danny Simpson, who made his first-team debut against Coventry.

All three could fill the full-back berth with O’Shea stepping into midfield as he has done with some success in the past.