Ferguson: United will be ready to reclaim title

ALEX FERGUSON has promised that Manchester United will be set for battle on day one of the new Premiership campaign.

Ferguson rallied his troops in Cardiff on Saturday following their shattering FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal, then waved goodbye for five weeks ahead of a June 27 return to training.

A combination of Arsenal and Chelsea, losing just a single game between them in the last two title-winning campaigns, plus the unwanted Champions League qualifier on August 10 has prompted Ferguson to call his squad back a fortnight earlier than usual.

In the past, the long-serving Scot has been happy to tailor preparations in a bid to ensure his side started to hit top form around Christmas.

However, after watching United go on a 20-game unbeaten run from October to April and still not make the slightest dent in Chelsea’s massive lead, Ferguson has decided to revise his strategy. A week in the Algarve has been incorporated into his plans, as well as confirmed friendlies against Clyde and Peterborough before the four-match Far East tour, and a trip to Wrexham immediately afterwards.

With no Community Shield appearance for Ferguson’s team, Old Trafford will probably play host to one high-profile friendly, although talk of a Roy Keane testimonial against Celtic on August 2 has been scuppered following the Hoops’ collapse at Motherwell on Sunday which commits them to a Champions League qualifying-round tie on that date.

Ferguson will be eager to tie up a couple of matters before his own holiday at the end of the month, not least the contractual position of Rio Ferdinand and Roy Carroll.

Despite his obvious irritation at Ferdinand’s unscheduled meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and the recent absence of the player’s agent Pini Zahavi, Ferguson would be loathe to lose the 26-year-old.

Carroll’s future is more difficult to predict. The Ulsterman has apparently demanded assurances of his place in Ferguson’s future plans before he makes a final decision on whether to sign the contract offered to him at the beginning of the season.

If Carroll opts to stay, Ferguson is less likely to bring in another keeper, leaving the £20million transfer kitty offered by new owner Malcolm Glazer to bring in adequate cover for Roy Keane.