MADNESS

Manchester United fear their pre-season tour of the Far East could leave their players burnt-out before the new season starts and see them playing catch-up once again.

They are committed to four games in eight days on a 12-day visit to Hong Kong, China and Japan, a trip driven mainly by commercial motives - with new owner Malcolm Glazer keen to exploit the Asian market.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed last season's jaunt to the US was a mistake and left his men jaded and unable to mount a challenge in the Premiership.

It has emerged there are similar concerns among his backroom staff over the length of the Far East tour and the number of games - at least one of which will be played in heat which could reach 30 degrees centigrade - 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is understood Fergie's assistant Carlos Queiroz remains concerned at the intensity of the Far East trip.

Fergie has already said he believes United lost the Premiership on the opening day of the season with a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea. He blamed a sluggish start on the US visit, but the latest tour involves more travel and as many games in fewer days.

Ferguson said: "We've been well known slow starters, but it's never really worried me because we always seemed to come back strongly in the second half of the season.

"After all, the league is a marathon, not a sprint. But now I have to question that kind of thinking because Chelsea turned last season into a sprint from start to finish.

"I'm determined we're going to be more physically ready to hit the ground running at the start of next season. We must be better prepared, not simply as we'll be involved in an early Champions League qualifier, but because we don't want to be playing catch-up again.

"The important thing is for us to improve and learn from what happened this season. We made a bad start and that's where we lost the league, no question.

"Next season the players are going to start much earlier to make sure we're ready, because it looks to me as if we're going to have to start better than normal.

United's Pre-Season according to the Mirror

June 27: Return for pre-season training after four-week-break.

July 4: Four-day training camp in Algarve, with families.

July 7: Return to Carrington for pre- season training.

July 20: 12-day tour of Far East.

July 23: Play Hong Kong national team.

July 24: Fly to Beijing.

July 25: Play Beijing XI.

July 27: Fly to Tokyo.

July 28: Match. Opposition tba.

July 30: Match. Opposition tba.

July 31: Fly back to Manchester.

August 3: Friendly tba.

August 6: Friendly tba.

August 10: Champions League qualifier, 1st leg.

August 13: Premiership kick-off.