ROY KEANE is worried that unless Manchester United sign a striker during the January transfer window it could fatally undermine their defence of the Premiership title.

JOHN Obi Mikel climbed off the bench to inspire Nigeria to a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in the African Nations Cup in Egypt last night.

OUTSPOKEN FIFA president Sepp Blatter has blocked Rio Ferdinand’s path to civil action over his eight-month ban imposed for missing a drugs test.

FORMER France international Jean-Pierre Papin has claimed he held discussions about becoming Manchester United’s assistant manager.

LEEDS yesterday rejected two offers from Manchester United for star striker Alan Smith.

RIO FERDINAND has two weeks to decide whether to appeal against the eight-month ban imposed on him by an independent three-man disciplinary commission for failing to take a drugs test.

Fulham 0 Arsenal 1

MANCHESTER United’s weekend victory over Newcastle United has prompted an avalanche of bets on the team to win tonight’s potential Premiership decider against Arsenal.

ALEX FERGUSON has urged Manchester United to ease their Champions League pain by piling more misery on underfire Chelsea.

England 2 Urugauy 1

MANCHESTER UNITED fans think the club should be praised, not condemned, for coming clean about their massive payments to agents.

PORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp has picked up April’s Barclaycard manager of the month award.

MIKAEL SILVESTRE has insisted Manchester United's players will not be deflected from the Barclaycard Premiership title drive by the off-field headlines that have swamped the club over the past fortnight.

THREE DAYS after he brutally jettisoned Roy Keane, Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United’s lack of experience is a major handicap to their dreams of Champions League glory.

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted Manchester United's confidence has taken a battering over the past month but is backing Wes Brown to lead the club out of their defensive crisis.

CAMEROON midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has claimed he has met Sir Alex Ferguson and will be a Manchester United player next season.

Alex Ferguson’s winter spending plans will not be affected by confirmation that Manchester United will have to wait until April 2005 for the final instalment of the €25m fee for Dutch defender Jaap Stam.

WAYNE ROONEY will be in a relaxed mood ahead of his first return to Everton at the weekend.

WHEN Robbie Fowler walks out of Elland Road for Manchester City it will represent one more sorry and spectacular failure for the club that dared to reach for the stars but fell so dramatically to earth.

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted Manchester United face a far tougher task overhauling Chelsea in the Premiership title race than they did with their successful pursuit of Arsenal two years ago.