Post by missunited on Nov 3, 2006 12:11:42 GMT
Saha's back in his Pomp
LOUIS Saha will return against Portsmouth to offset the loss of hamstring victim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The French striker was left behind at Carrington while the Reds lost in Denmark 1-0 to Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
He was left out as a precaution after picking up a knee injury at Bolton last Saturday.
Saha could be joined by Ryan Giggs for the Old Trafford clash, boosting the side beaten by the Danes.
However, skipper Gary Neville looks set to be given more time off to rid himself of the calf problem that first struck during the World Cup in the summer.
"Gary is a difficult one. He keeps getting a little niggle with his calf," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"We could have played him against Copenhagen but I was just worried that the recovery time for Portsmouth would have been very short. We decided he should have some good training because if it keeps occurring then we have a problem.
"We have to try to nip it in the bud now, so that when he does come into the team he is going to be 100 per cent.
"What has been happening recently is he is playing and then having treatment, and then playing and having treatment again.
"What happens then is that you are not fit enough for the games and you end up getting other injuries. We have to put that to bed immediately. We hope that training and treatment this week will see him OK - not for tomorrow, but certainly next week.
Injury
"The calf injury he got in the World Cup keeps coming back. We don't think it is anything serious but we have to pay some attention to it."
United need to get the Copenhagen setback out of their systems quickly as Portsmouth arrive in fourth position in the Premiership following a storming start to the campaign.
"It will be interesting," Fergie added. "Portsmouth are doing fantastically well and have a lot of experience in their side now."
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has joined in the tributes for Fergie as the United manager approaches his 20th anniversary in charge at Old Trafford.
"Alex has had a fantastic career," Redknapp said. "He's been a top manager and he's a good guy as well. He does an awful lot of work behind the scenes, he's very active with the League Managers' Association and he's great for the game."
But Redknapp warned that his team's start to the season should give them the confidence to ruin Sir Alex's weekend.
"We've got to go out there and have a go," he said. "We're in great shape with 19 points, so let's see if we can get a positive result.
"There are lots of things to think about playing United, but then you've got to play yourselves and got to have a go.
"If you can't have a go now and relax and play when you've got a good start like we've had, then you are never going to do it. It's a good time for us to go there."
LOUIS Saha will return against Portsmouth to offset the loss of hamstring victim Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The French striker was left behind at Carrington while the Reds lost in Denmark 1-0 to Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
He was left out as a precaution after picking up a knee injury at Bolton last Saturday.
Saha could be joined by Ryan Giggs for the Old Trafford clash, boosting the side beaten by the Danes.
However, skipper Gary Neville looks set to be given more time off to rid himself of the calf problem that first struck during the World Cup in the summer.
"Gary is a difficult one. He keeps getting a little niggle with his calf," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"We could have played him against Copenhagen but I was just worried that the recovery time for Portsmouth would have been very short. We decided he should have some good training because if it keeps occurring then we have a problem.
"We have to try to nip it in the bud now, so that when he does come into the team he is going to be 100 per cent.
"What has been happening recently is he is playing and then having treatment, and then playing and having treatment again.
"What happens then is that you are not fit enough for the games and you end up getting other injuries. We have to put that to bed immediately. We hope that training and treatment this week will see him OK - not for tomorrow, but certainly next week.
Injury
"The calf injury he got in the World Cup keeps coming back. We don't think it is anything serious but we have to pay some attention to it."
United need to get the Copenhagen setback out of their systems quickly as Portsmouth arrive in fourth position in the Premiership following a storming start to the campaign.
"It will be interesting," Fergie added. "Portsmouth are doing fantastically well and have a lot of experience in their side now."
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has joined in the tributes for Fergie as the United manager approaches his 20th anniversary in charge at Old Trafford.
"Alex has had a fantastic career," Redknapp said. "He's been a top manager and he's a good guy as well. He does an awful lot of work behind the scenes, he's very active with the League Managers' Association and he's great for the game."
But Redknapp warned that his team's start to the season should give them the confidence to ruin Sir Alex's weekend.
"We've got to go out there and have a go," he said. "We're in great shape with 19 points, so let's see if we can get a positive result.
"There are lots of things to think about playing United, but then you've got to play yourselves and got to have a go.
"If you can't have a go now and relax and play when you've got a good start like we've had, then you are never going to do it. It's a good time for us to go there."
Pompy could prove a difficult game so we need our first eleven available.
