Official leadership of the Barclays Premier League has been long overdue for United this season. So often have we taken the lead courtesy of playing before our rivals that we have not fully tasted table leadership this season.
Saturday provides us with yet another opportunity of playing earlier than Chelsea so we will technically be league leaders by the end of tomorrow if we avoid defeat at Molenuix. The ideal result would obviously be a win to move us two points ahead of Chelsea. That's not least because Arsenal themselves could be level with us on points before we kickoff tomorrow. We've got four away league games left but this is not one of those we expect anything less than maximum points.
Our game tomorrow is on the back of a Carling Cup triumph so you'd expect that the mood in the camp is top notch. The manager has however delivered a bit of mixed news for us today. One Michael Owen is out for the rest of the season wit the injury he picked up in last weeks' final. It's gutting for our title aspirations this season and for the lad as well as his dream of making it to the World Cup is now shattered. The good news is that Kiko Macheda is on his way back and we've got a certain Mame Briam Diouf who has only impressed us so far in the few times he has represented United.
The even better news is that Owen Hargreaves is on his way back. After missing the best part of two years with a knee injury, the Canadian born Englishman is finally on hi way back and will feature for the reserves next week. We could really make use of a talent like him in the run in.
More pertinent to our game against Wolves tomorrow is that Rio Ferdinad is fit to start alongside Vidic. It is rather a timely return for his as Evans picked up an injury whilst on International duty. I mean what a relief that we finally get to see our first choice central defence partnership play together.
The other cause for concern is that Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the game tomorrow having playing two consecutive games on that good for nothing Wembley pitch. Sir Alex might opt to leave him out for the visit of Milan in midweek but I say play him and take him off when the game is won.
It's too risky now to leave him out of a United side in that form of his. Berbatov is however fit enough to lead the line in case the manager rests Wayne.
This is the first of five league games over the next month or so that will determine whether we'll be retaining our trophy. It's why failure tomorrow is not an option!
Labels: PREVIEWS
