Manchester United Fans Club

Manchester United’s wonder goal scorer Nani has admitted he never expected to be given his opportunity so soon by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although Ferguson was prepared to invest up to £17million in Nani when he signed the Portugal international from Sporting Lisbon during the summer, the United boss made it quite clear it was a purchase for the future.

Unfortunately for Ferguson, a massive injury list forced him to change those plans and Nani was making his 14th appearance in 15 games this season when he opened the scoring with a sensational 30-yard effort against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Although Owen Hargreaves has begun his comeback from a long-term knee problem and Michael Carrick is hoping to get the all-clear to return to training after dislocating his elbow against AS Roma earlier this month, with Paul Scholes now sidelined, Nani cannot expect much of a rest just yet.

“I must confess, I was never expecting to be in the first-team so soon,” said the 20-year-old. “I was well aware of the quality of my team-mates and I knew I would have to work very hard to break into the first XI. (more…)

Midfield maestro Paul Scholes will have a knee operation on Thursday and is expected to be out of action for three months. Scholes, 32-year-old reported the injury during training prior Red Devils’s Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev on last Tuesday.

United’s boss Sir Alex confirmed on Friday a first scan proved inconclusive, but a second examination on Monday has confirmed ligament damage, meaning Scholes will now be out of action until February.

It is a big blow for Scholes, and also for United, even though the return of Hargreaves in Saturday’s win over Boro and the imminent return to training of Michael Carrick - who dislocated an elbow against Roma earlier this month negate the impact slightly.

For over a decade, Scholes has been one of the mainstays of Ferguson’s side and his unerring ability to produce goals at vital times has aided many of the Red Devils trophy success down the years.

However, Ferguson will be delighted to note Scholes should be back in action and hopefully fresh and fit enough to resume United’s Champions League quest at the knockout stage towards the end of February.