lumlum
Premier League
- 3 August 2003
- Team
- MUFC
Not this shit again 

Saha blow stuns Fergie
By NEIL CUSTIS
MANCHESTER UNITED have been hit by a major title blow after Louis Saha badly injured an ankle in training.
The French international was carried off in agony after going over on the ankle as he tried to change direction during a drill.
He will miss tomorrow’s game against Sunderland and Monday’s fixture at Tottenham.
Saha, 27, could even be a doubt for the remainder of the season.
He has scored 13 goals in 14 starts since December as United have cut Chelsea’s 18-point gap at the top to just seven.
And Saha also ousted Ruud van Nistelrooy as Alex Ferguson’s No 1 choice up front with Wayne Rooney.
Striker Saha was taking part in an exercise where one group of players try to keep the ball away from another. He tried to change direction quickly but crumpled in a heap and was carried off by two physios.
A United insider said: “Training was stopped immediately. He looked in agony when he went over and everyone looked pretty concerned.
“Two physios were called out to assess him. They carried him off to see if any damage has been done — but it looked pretty bad.”
Saha will be devastated as he is enjoying his best run of form following two years of injury problems.
It now means the onus will be back on 25-goal top scorer Van Nistelrooy.
He was axed for the Carling Cup final after February’s FA Cup defeat at Liverpool. Since then the Dutchman has struggled to regain his first-team place.
Meanwhile, United and England defender Rio Ferdinand insists Wayne Rooney can handle the responsibility of being his country’s ‘main man’ at the World Cup.
Ferdinand said: “He is at the beginning of, hopefully, what will be a great career.
“Wayne’s someone who has got unbelievable talent. He’s clinical in what he does — his final pass, his shooting and his goalscoring, and he’s a real team player.
“Everyone is putting a lot of pressure on him to be the main man but if anyone can shoulder that responsibility, it’s Wayne.”
The FA are currently conducting further interviews with candidates for the England manager’s job.
But Ferdinand, 27, insists the players are not being distracted by the ongoing saga.
He added: “We’ve got to look beyond it to the World Cup, that’s the most important issue at the moment.
“I just think the FA have got to find the right man for the job.
“Sven Goran Eriksson is leaving and we’ve just got to get on with it as players.
“When it’s time for him to go it’s up to the FA. We’ve got no say or bearing on what does happen.
“But as long as it goes to the best man and he brings the best out of the players then that’s great for English football.”
The World Cup starts on June 9 but centre-half Ferdinand is focused on United’s unlikely title challenge.
He said: “You’ve got to put the World Cup on the backburner, though it’s difficult because we’re all fans ourselves.
“You’ve got to be professional and put it at the back of your head and keep it for little silent moments and concentrate on the domestic season with your club, which is the most important thing now.”