MANCHESTER:
Robin van Persie’s return to the Manchester United line-up gives new manager Louis van Gaal some welcome good news ahead of the Premier League match away to Sunderland on Sunday.
Van Gaal, hoping to bounce back from the 2-1 opening weekend defeat by Swansea, has been beset by injuries in midfield and Ander Herrera is the latest to be absent, with an ankle problem, alongside Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Jesse Lingard.
Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia could also miss the trip to the Stadium of Light but while Van Gaal has concerns in those areas, he has his first-choice attack available.
Van Gaal is excited about the prospect of seeing Van Persie and England striker Rooney, whom he has made United captain, playing together.
“Robin is ready to play so that’s a big benefit for our team,” said Van Gaal.
“In theory, it should be a very good couple [with Rooney]. They can score a lot of goals and I hope it shall show that.”
Van Gaal accepts that United must get off the mark against Gus Poyet’s Sunderland side.
“Sunderland will do everything, with the support of the home crowd, it will be a tough game but we need a victory and we’ll do everything.”
Sunderland manager Poyet has insisted the Black Cats have a psychological edge over United after last season’s success against the former Premier League champions.
The north-east club dumped United out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage, in addition to earning their first league win at Old Trafford for 46 years.
Redknapp piles pressure on Spurs
QPR manager Harry Redknapp has piled pressure on Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his return to White Hart Lane by insisting anything other than a top-four finish will be a failure for his old club.
Redknapp says he is a fan of Pochettino, but that didn’t stop him heaping a little more pressure on his counterpart’s shoulders ahead of Sunday’s London derby.
“They should be pushing to get into the top four, and if they don’t it would be a disappointment for Tottenham,” said Redknapp.
“They’ve got fantastic players and so they’re entitled to be a good team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2014.
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