Sunday, August 24, 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson set for bust-up with Fabio Capello

Fabio Capello and Sir Alex Ferguson look certain to lock horns for the first time - over Owen Hargreaves.
The England coach has made it clear that he sees holding midfielder Hargreaves as an crucial part of his World Cup campaign and wants him for next months's opening qualifiers with Andorra and Croatia.
But Hargreaves has only just finished a series of injections aimed at curing a knee problem that has haunted him for 16 months.
And even if he plays in this week's European Super Cup clash with Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco, Fergie does not want him rushed back - a stance that is bound to lead to a battle of wills with the England coach. Ferguson said: "Physically there is absolutely no problem in terms of endurance work with Owen.
"This has been his first week of football training and if he carries on in the way he has been doing then we'll take him to Portsmouth on Monday and maybe put him on the bench.
"If he comes through the training afterwards he'll definitely play against Zenit.
"We've done all the treatment on his knee. He's done the injections and we expect that to be that. The injections would eradicate the problem and now we must hope that will be the case."
But Fergie cannot be sure, and neither can Hargreaves (below), who said: "Maybe I'll be fit for England but United comes first and I need to play here first.
"Monaco is a possibility. I'll just have to see how training goes."
Capello is intent on pressing the issue, however, and will contact Ferguson on United's return from their clash with Zenit - but is bound to be met with a frosty reception.

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