Owen savours cup start

Michael Owen conceded that Wednesday's Carling Cup win over Scunthorpe was a vital outing for several squad members who have found themselves consigned to the first team periphery this term.

The 30-year-old bagged a brace in United's 5-2 victory at Glanford Park, as he made his first start since August's Community Shield. United's starting line-up contained eight players who had made one or less starts so far this term, and a pepped-up Scunthorpe side provided a valuable test of their fitness and sharpness.

"There are a few of us who haven't been playing a lot this season and needed the game, and Scunthorpe made a real game of it," Owen told MUTV. "They're obviously very fit and they never stopped going forward.

"We scored five goals but they could have scored a few as well. It was a good game. There were a lot of players there tonight that needed that first game; be it players coming back from injury or players who just haven't played, so that was beneficial to us.

"All in all it was a good workout and we're pleased to get through to the next round - especially seeing the other results!"

Owen feels he and a number of other action-starved players have fallen foul of the early-season schedule, but the striker predicts that the onset of cup duties, allied to the bread and butter of the Premier League, will ensure plenty of squad rotation from Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It's been a strange start to the season," said Owen. "We played weekend-weekend-weekend, and then it was international games for two weeks so the manager didn't need to rotate so much. Subsequently, five weeks into the season the manager had kept a similar team.

"We're coming into a period now where the Champions League has started, the League Cup has started and there are Premier League games, so I'm sure there will be a lot more games coming thick and fast now."

Berba: It was a magical day

Dimitar Berbatov took home a big smile and a signed matchball after enjoying arguably his finest hour for United.

"It's a magical day, special for me because I scored a hat-trick and we won against our rivals Liverpool," the Bulgarian beamed on MUTV. "Everybody was happy in the dressing room after the game. I'm happy too and I'm going home with a smile on my face because we won a very important game.

"It's probably one of my best games for United but I don't want it to be my last so I will keep working and hopefully I'll improve on the things I try to do. Today, everything happened for me. I give thanks to my team-mates who supplied me for the goals."

The forward's second goal - a stunning overhead kick - is an early contender for goal of the season. But with his back to goal, Dimitar didn't have the best view of it. "Honestly I didn't see it go in, but when I hear the crowd screaming, it was easy to guess what happened. For me, if the ball's in the net, it doesn't matter if it's an overhead kick or a tap-in."

At that stage, the Reds looked certain to enjoy a comfortable win. But two goals from visiting captain Steven Gerrard changed that and two points looked to be slipping away for the third time this season. "This was going through my mind when it was 2-2 but we showed we have good spirit, a fighting spirit and we always fight to the end," he added. "We scored a third goal and we deserved the win.

"Liverpool put up a good performance but I think we deserved it more than them. Let's hope in the future we don't complicate it so much! It's good when you're up 2-0 but even better when you make it 3-0. We'll keep working, we'll keep improving. There is a long way ahead of us but hopefully we'll be on top at the end of the season."

From a noisy afternoon to a quiet night in, Berbatov revealed there would be no big celebrations. "I'm going home to play with my kids," he said. "I am nothing special. Tomorrow is another day and next Sunday we have another game. That's it."

Berba's back on Sunday

Sir Alex isn’t in the habit of giving away too many secrets, but the United boss has confirmed Dimitar Berbatov will play against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Bulgarian has been in fine form this season, netting four goals in five games to silence members of the media who had questioned whether he was cut out to play at Old Trafford.

But the manager has always backed the striker and will put his faith in the 29-year-old again when he sends him out against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

“Not everyone’s questioned him,” Sir Alex reminded the press on Friday morning. “He has a lot of admirers, particularly within this club.

“When we buy a player for a lot of money there’s more focus on them. When they have a bad game they get criticism other players might not get.

“Dimitar’s had some marvellous games for us. I’ve told him he has to dismiss the press. I think he worried about [the headlines sometimes]. But he’s expressed himself this season very well, he’s enjoying his football and he’ll play on Sunday.”

The boss also confirmed “everyone else is fit” and reiterated his belief that United-Liverpool games are still the biggest drawcard on the English football calendar.

“I may sound like a parrot sometimes because I say this time and time again but this is the fixture. And the form in these fixtures fluctuates quite a bit.

“There was a period for about five years [in the late 90s] when we hardly lost and then recently they won a few in a row. We won the last game [in March 2010], so hopefully that swings it back in our favour again.”

Although Liverpool played a Europa League tie on Thursday night, Sir Alex doesn’t expect any sizable advantage from an extra two days’ rest.

“Liverpool rested players on Thursday so it doesn’t really matter. Both teams will be well prepared for the game. We’re looking forward to it.”

Valencia surgery successful

United have confirmed that Antonio Valencia's ankle operation was successful.

The Ecuadorian winger was stretchered off during the Reds' Champions League draw with Rangers on Tuesday after dislocating and fracturing his left ankle.

Valencia is likely to be out of action for a while, but remains in good spirits.

"The operation went well," a club spokesperson told ManUtd.com.

"A plate has been inserted to stabilise the fracture but there is obvious significant ligament damage that follows a dislocation and he will be out for a good portion of the season.

"Contrary to recent reports there has been no official contact from the Ecuadorian national team. Antonio is perfectly fine, very positive and very determined."

Get well soon, Antonio

Antonio Valencia underwent surgery on a fracture and dislocation of his left ankle on Wednesday, the start of the long road to recovery from the horrific injury he suffered against Rangers at Old Trafford.

But team-mate Darren Fletcher says Valencia has the character, determination and mental aptitude to overcome the injury and battle his way back to the standards he reached in an excellent debut campaign for the Reds.

"It was a really bad injury," admitted Fletcher, on the field when Gers defender Kirk Broadfoot's innocuous-looking challenge led to Antonio being stretchered off the field with an injury Sir Alex Ferguson likened to the leg-break Alan Smith suffered at Anfield in 2006.

Flecher added: "He’s a good lad and a strong character. Having just got back from injury at the end of last season, it’s a real blow for him. But he has real determination about him and he works hard. He’ll be back, I’m sure. He’s a top player. He’s been great since he came from Wigan.

"He had a great first season and he was looking to push on this year. That’s why the injury’s a blow. But he has a long future at United and I’m sure he’ll be back as soon as possible."

Valencia's injury capped what was a hugely frustrating night for the Reds all round. But Fletcher says Rangers deserve credit for their defensive organised and dogged resolution not to allow United to break them down.

"I don’t think many teams have played with three centre-halves before," he said. "I think that was the difference. Usually when you play against teams who get men behind the ball they have the extra man in midfield, but Rangers had it in defence and they proved difficult to break down."

I'm living the dream (Nani)

It's not just Manchester-born first-teamers who dreamt of playing for the Reds as youngsters. Portuguese winger Nani has revealed he visited Old Trafford before he joined United and sat in the dressing room daring to dream he would one day earn his own place there.

In an exclusive interview with Inside United, the 23-year-old tells of his trip to M16 as a youngster and looks back on how far he has come since.

"I came with my friend and we did the tour of the museum and the stadium," explains to the monthly magazine, out now. "I remember sitting in the first-team dressing room and both of us saying ‘wow, this is Ronaldo’s place’ and ‘this is where Rooney and Giggs sit'!

"We sat there and said ‘imagine what it would be like to be part of this dressing room one day,’…and then two years later I was here. It was a great feeling when I signed."

Nani talks in-depth about his emergence as one of the key men for United in 2010, and how he is enjoying his football and feels at home in Manchester and at United.

"The life here is very nice," he adds, "but the best things for me are being able to play football every day for such a great club and having the opportunity to win trophies each season.

"I’ve learnt a lot in my time here - I'm older, more experienced and I have more confidence. It's my fourth season at the club and it feels like this is home now."

 

Welbeck makes progress

Danny Welbeck is pleased with his performances on United's pre-season tour of the US and Canada, and says it's the result developing as a player mentally just as much as he has done physically or technically.

The 19-year-old forward shone in United's second tour match against Philadelphia Union this week, and he’s hoping his performances will catch Sir Alex Ferguson's eye.

"I’m really pleased with how the tour has gone for me so far and I’m happy with my performances,” Danny told ManUtd.com.

“I’ve got to keep going and continue to get my fitness up. The game in Philadelphia was a good game for us and a good test of our fitness levels. It was quite open at times but we’re pleased to have got the win.

“My main aim is to be part of the first team set-up this season, but I’m happy to go on loan if the manager wants me to. I just want to keep playing games and improving.”

The Longsight-born striker feels his game has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot over the last couple of years in particular,” he explains. “I’ve learnt so much during that time, particularly the importance of mental strength on and off  the pitch. I want to keep improving and striving to show everyone what I can do.”

Much of that development is rooted in the exposure to playing alongside experienced professionals like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, something Welbeck – like al the other youngsters on the tour – has relished across the Atlantic.

“It’s always good to be away with a few of the older lads because you pick up so much from them every day. You see how they prepare for games, how they rest and how they train.

"The older lads at the club are unbelievable – they have this huge determination to win every single training match, let alone actual games. Just to be around them is a real privilege.”