The Reds ready to beat Newcastle

Manchester United is fighting to get the title of the Premiership, and this time they will have a really tough rival to beat: Newcastle United.

Manchester United have started strongly and despite failing to pick up a win in their last two Premiership outings, they too achieved a hard fought victory in Europe in the week and will be looking to rediscover the impressive early season form that has ensured they remain within touching distance of championship favourites Chelsea. Defeat at home by Arsenal and a draw at Reading marred what had been a perfect start after four games, and they will be anxious to re-establish winning momentum against the Magpies.

So, is important to mention that Sir Alex Ferguson is without defender Mikael Silvestre for six weeks as he Frenchman recovers from a broken metatarsal, while midfielder Ryan Giggs – in such good form until he injured his hamstring - is expected to be out of contention for a further two weeks. The coach is likely to select the same eleven he started with against Benfica on Tuesday.

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Tough victory over Tottenham Hotspurs

This time, the victory was not so clear. Manchester United actually suffered to continue their perfect start to the Premiership season by beating Tottenham 1-0. They have a record of fourth straight victories.

In fact, it should have been a great game given the star players on both teams. But, in the end, the game went a bit stale after Ryan Giggs' goal in the ninth minute.

But there is no denying that Ferguson's team have made a superb start to the season. They deserved the 1-0 triumph over Tottenham. They showed pace and skill in their build-up play and they certainly have more ideas when it comes to attacking.

But if it's about admitting faults, they have to be more ruthless when it comes to converting their opportunities.

French striker Louis Saha was the biggest culprit and he wasted two great opportunities late on to wrap up the result. In the 83rd minute, Park Ji Sung picked him out on the edge of the box but he selfishly went for glory instead of passing to available team-mates.

And in the last minute, he beat the offside trap but in an one-on-one confrontation with Paul Robinson, he was unable to beat the goalkeeper. Perhaps Saha was trying too hard to prove to Sir Alex Ferguson that he can be the man to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Obviously, Man U were caught napping towards the end and could have paid a heavy price for the lapses in concentration. Sir Alex Ferguson will have alot of work to do to remain in the winning path.

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Ferguson admits Keane contact

Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, assured Roy Keane has been in constant touch with him since taking charge at Sunderland Football Club, and he has been in touch with his former mentor at Manchester United several times already.

"In fact, Roy must have rung me up half a dozen times already in the first week at Sunderland," Ferguson told the media. "The first thing he said was 'I never thought it would be like this. I've never been off the telephone'.

“I repeated: 'I told you it's a difficult job'. I've spoken to him several times and I said the same thing to him that I said to my other former players like Steve Bruce.

“You've got to deal with and navigate the problems of today like player power, agents and the media. I wished him well and told him he will have to learn to tolerate some things in football that he just doesn't agree with.

"Don't forget that the most important thing he has to do is find a way of enjoying the job. Some players think they know what it's like to be a manager but they don't know, they can't do.

“I think you've got to be prepared to learn and you've got to find a way to enjoy it. If you can't deal with the pressure, and can't enjoy the job, then you're going to be in big trouble.

"It's true, in management, you've got to accept that challenge. You've got to try and enjoy the job because if you're not enjoying it, you're not going to do the job right any way."

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