OTHER UNITED NEWS

Ferdinand embarrasses himself yet again. This, his opinion on one of the greatest goals ever scored by one of the greatest players ever.

“I'd like to have taken on Maradona. That goal in the 1986 World Cup against England was almost unstoppable - he went past half our team. But I wouldn't have slid in, he wouldn't have scored if I'd been playing.”

Meanwhile Stam joins the queue seeking to praise the dopy, forgetful one:

“Rio is mentally strong — and training at United means he’s used to dealing with good forwards every day.

“I hated the fact I trained all week and then waved goodbye to my team-mates on Friday as they went off to play a game. It’s something Rio has gone through and he will know life outside the first-team is not nice.”

Fergie on Heinze:

"He's been fantastic and I'm pleased about him. I knew he could defend well and that was why I brought him here and there was a good option in that I could play him as a centre back. He has done really well for me. He's got a toughness there.

"You can't kid fans. They love people who try and he is a determined, aggressive full-back and he enjoys playing."

Saha:

Louis Saha will swap a packed Stade de France for the spartan surroundings of Altrincham as he takes his first steps towards a United recall.

The former Fulham striker is in line to face Birmingham City on Thursday night in a Premiership Reserve League game played at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground after returning to full training last week.

Saha's last start was in France's World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands last month, but he lasted only nine minutes before being stretchered off with a knee injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I want to give Louis a run out in the reserves before he comes back and that will probably be on Thursday."

Bellion on MUTV:

"You might be a little bit upset about the score or the result but you are never down. That is the difference between lots of other clubs and United, they never give up, like on Sunday against Middlesbrough, we knew that with all the attacking players we have got we could score in that game.

"Sir Alex, and Carlos [Queiroz]and Mickey [Phelan] are always looking at what is wrong and trying to put it right and they make little changes.”