FERGIE DENIES NEVILLE 'SURGERY' REPORTS
Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected claims Gary Neville will be out for
six weeks and revealed the Manchester United full-back will play at
Newcastle on New Year's Day.
Earlier in the season Ferguson admitted Neville might require
surgery to correct a long-standing calf problem and reports
surfaced on Saturday morning that the 31-year-old is due to have an
operation at the start of next month.
Neville's absence from United's last three games, including
Saturday's 3-2 win over Reading, only fuelled speculation all was
not well with the England star.
However, Red Devils officials played down the fears over Neville's
fitness before the game, with Ferguson offering his own input after
watching United charge six points clear of Chelsea at the Barclays
Premiership summit.
"Gary is playing at Newcastle on Monday, so that six weeks has
obviously been reduced by some miracle drug," he scoffed.
"It is so silly. These reports have supposedly come from some great
authority. What kind of authority is it when the lad is going to
play on Monday?"
Ferguson confirmed Rio Ferdinand was receiving treatment for a kick
on the shin but said Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes would
definitely be available for the St James' Park encounter after
missing Saturday's win through suspension.
Lucky he is ok... Brown can't seem to
make good crosses.
