10/5: Latest News …
Mirror: BEN FOSTER has admitted he is risking his England place by returning to Manchester United.
The goalkeeper, 24, has forced his way into Steve McClaren’s plans after two outstanding seasons on loan at Watford and made his full debut against Spain in February. And Sir Alex Ferguson believes he is ready to compete with Edwin van der Sar for the No.l spot at Old Trafford next term.
But Foster accepts the competition could see him spend much of the season on the bench and also push him down the pecking order for his country.
“I see my future at Manchester United,” he said. “If it means biding my time on the bench for one season then so be it.”
But he added: “If I’m not going to be playing for United, I can’t expect to be in the England team.”
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Sky: Rio Ferdinand has admitted he went through the mill on more than one occasion before Manchester United finally claimed the Premiership title last weekend.
United have led the pack for most of the season and they were crowned champions when Chelsea failed to beat Arsenal on Sunday.
Although they always looked to have things in control, United did make life difficult for themselves on occasions.
Ferdinand says Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning late winner against Fulham sent belief coursing through the camp, while he admits it was tough for him when he was sidelined for the win over Everton.
“For the last two years we have let the league go before Christmas, we had given ourselves mountains to climb,” Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.
“But the boss said if you are there or thereabouts at Christmas, you have players of experience and the legs to go the distance and it proved it.”
Reflecting on Ronaldo’s solo goal against Fulham, Ferdinand compared the effort to a certain comic-book hero.
“It was like Roy of the Rovers stuff,” said Ferdinand. “He just picked the ball up and headed towards goal and it went in.”
Chelsea’s chase of United came off the rails when they failed to beat Bolton, as at the same time The Red Devils battled back to see off Everton.
Ferdinand was absent for the game and he admits watching from the sidelines is not his favourite pastime.
“I wasn’t playing and it was one of the most nerve-wracking days of my life,” said Ferdinand. “I can’t watch when I am not playing unless I am at the stadium.
“I can’t watch it on TV, I get too nervous. I was out walking and the lads turned it round.”
Ferdinand has admitted he cut a frustrated figure as Chelsea battled in vain to overcome Arsenal on Sunday.
“I was sat in the room and put something else on the TV, but my girlfriend said Arsenal had scored and I relaxed,” stated Ferdinand. “I watched the rest of the game, but the last 20 minutes I was going bananas and luckily enough we were champions.
“It was a fantastic feeling.”
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Roy Keane wants to keep loan stars Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson of Manchester United and hopes to wrap up deals in the next few weeks.
The duo have impressed since arriving on loan from Old Trafford and although Keane wants to complete a double deal as soon as possible, he will not be pestering Sir Alex Ferguson.
Instead he will let things develop naturally over the coming weeks.
“The last thing these managers want is a phone call asking about their loan players,” Keane revealed. “They have big games, that will take care of itself over the next few weeks.
“I’ve said all along that Jonny and Danny aren’t our players. They have done fantastically well for us but they aren’t our players and I’m pretty sure United will want them back.”
Evans added: “As far as I’m concerned I’m going back to United, I’ve heard nothing different. But if something did come about I’d have no qualms about staying here, I’ve had a great time.”
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Manchester United midfielder Chris Eagles says his aim is to emulate his boyhood hero Joe Cole and climb to the top of the Premiership tree.
Eagles left Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night clutching Cole’s shirt following United’s 0-0 league draw away to Chelsea..
At 21, Eagles has reached an age where Cole had already played for his country.
Although such honours are a long way off for the Hemel Hempstead-born player, he has every reason to be encouraged by his performances for United over the last couple of weeks.
To some, it seemed a year at Watford, followed by half a season in Holland with NEC Nijmegen effectively signalled his imminent departure from Old Trafford.
However, with injuries starting to bite and Sir Alex Ferguson eager to give some of his senior men a bit of a rest as the hunt for silverware intensified, Eagles now looks to have made a major breakthrough.
A first Premiership goal - a well-taken effort at Everton last month - was followed by an eye-catching display against Chelsea last night on his first league start.
The performances might have come too late to squeeze him on to the bench for the FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea at Wembley on May 19, but Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Eagles as a talent for the future and the youngster seems certain to be given more opportunities to emulate his hero next term.
“I have always looked up to Joe Cole, ever since I was a youngster,” said Eagles.
“I used to play for London Schools like him. When he was 16 I was only about nine but I used to watch him and admire him. He was a good player even then.
“You could say he is one of my idols. After the game I asked him for his shirt and he asked for mine. Hopefully, he will save it like I will save his.”
In total, Eagles has made 11 senior appearances for the Red Devils stretching across four seasons since he made his debut in a League Cup win over Leeds in October 2003.
Since then, most of the midfielder’s football education has come away from Old Trafford as Ferguson has opted to allow Eagles to continue his development at Watford (twice), Sheffield Wednesday, and Nijmegen.
Yet his industrious performance against a far more exerienced Chelsea outfit, and his willingness to try and match their physical approach, suggests plenty of lessons have been learned.
And, while time is not exactly on his side in the drive to become a first-team regular, Eagles is determined to enjoy every moment.
“It is fantastic to be involved,” he said.
“Even getting asked to travel with the first-team squad is good.
“When I came back from Holland at Christmas I started off playing in the reserves, which I loved.
“But I was determined to make sure the gaffer knew I was back so he wanted me in his squad.”
If nothing else, Eagles has enjoyed the unique experience of being applauded onto the field by Chelsea’s guard of honour.
Even though his two Premiership appearances will not be enough to earn him a medal, his champion entrance is something Eagles is unlikely to forget in a hurry.
“I was so proud,” he beamed.
“You look all the Chelsea players in the eye and you knew they were gutted to do it. But it was something special.”
With only Sunday’s key encounter with West Ham to come before the Wembley showdown with Chelsea, realistically, Eagles knows his next United appearance is likely to come on their pre-season tour to the far east.
However, just by being around some of United’s superstar names, the youngster feels he is improving.
“Sometimes it can be quite hard for a young player coming into the team but the lads have all been brilliant to me,” he said.
“You learn stuff from people like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney every day.
“To play alongside them is just fantastic.”
