United pull in the punters

Manchester United are on the brink of putting up the ‘sold out’ signs for the first time since the Old Trafford club completed their £43m (€63.3m) stadium expansion this summer.

The Red Devils have confirmed all seats available on general sale have been sold for this week’s mouth-watering triple bill featuring Premiership visits from Tottenham and Arsenal, split by a Champions League clash with Celtic.

Although some executive seats still remain available, it seems certain Saturday’s encounter with Spurs will see United play in front of the biggest attendance ever to see them play at Old Trafford, which in turn will become a new Premiership record.

With the October 1 encounter with Newcastle also virtually certain to attract a capacity crowd, it justifies the decision of the Glazer family to continue with the project, which was launched before they seized control of the club in controversial circumstances last year.