Man Utd v Bolton: Preview
Sir Alex Ferguson is backing Wayne Rooney to fire Manchester United
towards Premiership glory.
With Henrik Larsson back in Sweden, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer both on the injured list and Alan Smith still to make a
league start this term, Rooney is the Red Devils' only fully fit
striker for their Old Trafford encounter with Bolton.
A subdued force for much of the campaign, certainly in comparison
to Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney has recently showed encouraging signs
of a return to top form.
The England star broke a seven-game barren sequence with his goal
at Middlesbrough last weekend, then added another two in the UEFA
charity game in midweek.
'Wayne is like everyone else who scores goals, he wants to score
all the time,' said Ferguson.
'That is their mantra. They feel scoring is the most important
thing. There is nothing wrong with that.
'He doesn't get down and he doesn't dwell on things because he is
such a bubbly character. But I have seen his confidence coming
back.
'He has been alive in training and I am sure he won't be worried
about being our only striker.'
Ferguson knows he can rely on Rooney's willingness to play a full
part, not just against Bolton, but the FA Cup quarter-final replay
with Middlesbrough 48 hours later.
In fact, with so many men missing, the United boss has little
alternative other than to stick with the same squad for both
games.
Among the casualties, in addition to his forwards, are Edwin van
der Sar, Darren Fletcher and Mikael Silvestre, while Paul Scholes
is only one game into the three-match ban he picked up for his red
card at Liverpool.
Happily, Patrice Evra is back from a calf problem while Ferguson
confirmed reports claiming Rio Ferdinand is suffering from cracked
ribs are wide of the mark.
'We have a few injuries at the moment but we coped when we had some
at the start of the season and we will cope with it again,' said
the Scot.
Although John O'Shea's injury-time winner at Liverpool took United
12 points clear, Chelsea have since halved the deficit by emerging
victorious from their two games in hand.
The results appear to have given the back-to-back champions a
momentum they have not enjoyed at any other stage during the
campaign, even if nothing much has changed.
Ferguson said: 'People think Chelsea will go the whole way but why
should we worry about them?
'We need to keep collecting the points and cutting the games off.
Hopefully it will get us to where we want to go.
'Obviously, every game is a cup final-type situation but the
players have shown they have the composure to handle it.
'They have the confidence in their game and, as we saw against
Fulham and Liverpool, they have the guts and determination to see
it through too.'
Ryan Giggs is expected to partner Rooney up front, with Ronaldo and
Park Ji-sung occupying the wide slots in midfield against a Bolton
side well placed to land a UEFA Cup slot and who are not unused to
winning at Old Trafford.
Abdoulaye Meite insists he is not fazed by the possibility of
taking on England striker Wayne Rooney in front of a full house at
Old Trafford.
Bolton's Ivory Coast defender has grown in confidence after
cementing a place in the team since arriving from Marseille in the
summer.
Meite, 26, is expected to shake off a toe injury and return to the
side against Manchester United following suspension.
He said: 'I will take in my stride playing at Old Trafford and
facing Rooney.
'I have appeared at the Stade Velodrome in front of big crowds, so
it is something I am used to and I am ready.
'One of the reasons I came to England was to play against the likes
of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.'
Meite believes the Premiership is living up to its billing as the
best in the world.
He said: 'In France you can pass the ball around at the back and
take a five-minute breather. Here it is non-stop.
'I knew it would be a top standard of football. It is the best in
the world.
'I am determined to succeed in this environment and Bolton are an
ambitious club.'
Sam Allardyce will make a late decision on Kevin Davies'
fitness.
The striker has returned to training following a six-match absence
after suffering a chipped bone in his ankle. However, his lack of
match practice is a concern for Allardyce ahead of the
match.
