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Man Utd v Fulham (Mon)
Rooney has returned to full training with Man Utd
Old Trafford
Monday, 3 December
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to return to face Fulham after recovering from his ankle injury.
Rooney will link up with Carlos Tevez up front and United could give recalls to Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves, Edwin van der Sar and Wes Brown too.
Fulham full-back Moritz Volz will not play despite a reserve outing after his shoulder, groin and foot problems.
Phillipe Christanval, Kasey Keller, Lee Cook, Ian Pearce, Brian McBride, Simon Elliot and Jimmy Bullard are also out.
Rooney hands United boss Sir Alex Ferguson a major boost after they slipped up with a 1-0 defeat at Bolton last weekend in the Premier League.
The England striker has missed three United matches and two England games since suffering the freak injury in training.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Pique, Simpson, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.
Fulham (from): Niemi, Warner, Baird, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Konchesky, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey, Kamara, Kuqi, Healy, Bouazza, Smertin, Leijer, Seol, Volz.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"Wayne has been training with the first team and has a few extra days to prepare, so I think he will be ready. He won't need any encouragement to play that is for sure. "His endurance work is fine and his fitness levels are good. He has not even been out for a month so I wouldn't imagine it will take him a long time to get his rhythm."
"You do miss these players. You cope but you still miss them. Wayne was on a good run of form before he got injured and hopefully he can continue it."
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez:
"It's the biggest ground in the country, they are the champions, and the quality of the players on show is terrific. It's a great challenge, I'm looking forward to it. "I was lucky enough as a player to walk out of there a couple of times as a winner, so I know what it's like.
"Taking my team back there , my first time as a Premier League manager, I'm looking for us to have a go."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Manchester United defend their unbeaten home Premier League record against a Fulham side still searching for a first away win.
United have lost just two Premier League fixtures this season; Fulham have won two.
Prior to securing top spot in their group in the Champions League on Tuesday, United lost 1-0 away to Bolton. They have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 95 Premier League fixtures since April 2005.
The Red Devils are pursuing a seventh home League win on the bounce against the Premier League draw specialists in Fulham, who've finished all square on seven occasions.
Fulham made their Premier League debut at Old Trafford in August 2001. They twice led the defending champions but eventually succumbed by the odd goal in five, and have only managed to arrest maximum points from the Red Devils once in 11 subsequent attempts.
CLUB FORM
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures) 1. Last weekend's 1-0 loss at Bolton ended a 10-match unbeaten sequence in the Premier League.
2. Last lost successive league games on 9 and 20 April 2005, away to Norwich and Everton.
3. Failed to score in one of the last 11 in all competitions (v Bolton).
4. Conceded just seven Premier League goals in 14 outings; that's one every three hours. Only Liverpool have shipped fewer - six.
5. Opened the scoring in an unrivalled 10 Premier League matches this season, eight of which were won and two drawn.
6. Won the last six in league and cup at home, since losing 0-2 to Coventry in the third round of the Carling Cup on 26 September.
7. One of six Premier League clubs still holding an unbeaten home record.
8. Won the last six Premier League matches at Old Trafford against Tottenham, Sunderland, Chelsea, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Blackburn, keeping clean sheets in five of them.
9. Conceded only one home goal in this Premier League season (v Middlesbrough); the best home defensive record in the highest league.
10. Three pre-Christmas Premier League fixtures remain; against Derby (h), Liverpool (a) and Everton (h).
FULHAM
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures) 1. Won one of 11 in all competitions.
2. Won four of 31 Premier League matches in 2007 - one of the last 12; 3-1 against Reading on 3 November.
3. Won three of 19 league matches under Lawrie Sanchez.
4. The current tally of 13 points after 14 matches is their lowest ever to this stage of a Premier League campaign.
5. Still the strongest first-half club in the Premier League, leading in seven and drawing in six of their 14 games at the break.
6. Cannot close out games. Lost the lead eight times in league matches this season and beaten in an unequalled three games in which they held the lead; against Arsenal (a), Middlesbrough (h) and Aston Villa (a). Dropped an unparalleled 17 Premier League points from winning positions.
7. Yet to beat a top-half club. Drawn three and lost four of their seven fixtures against clubs currently in the top 10.
8. Drawn 50% of their league games; seven of 14.
9. The highest placed of seven clubs still without an away win in the Premier League. On the longest current streak of 23 matches without an away victory, picking up 11 points from a possible 69 since the 1-2 defeat of Newcastle at St James' Park on 9 September last year. Won two of the last 44 league games away from Craven Cottage.
10. This is the first of back-to-back league fixtures in the north-west; must visit Everton after this, before pre-Christmas home clashes with Newcastle and Wigan.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer this season with 11 goals (netted in his last 12 appearances).
RONALDO is also the leading Premier League marksman with six.
The Portugal World Cup star has scored five Premier League goals against Fulham; four in three appearances against them.
Ryan GIGGS is one short of 100 career league goals.
Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have started all of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.
Edwin VAN DER SAR will be keeping goal against his former club. The 37 year old Holland international made 154 appearances (127 in the league) for Fulham from August 2001, before signing for United in June 2005.
Louis SAHA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international made 143 appearances (117 in the league) and scored 63 goals (53 league) for the Cottagers between June 2000 to his £12.8m move to Old Trafford in January 2004.
If on the field from the outset:-
When he returns from injury and next plays from the outset, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
FULHAM
Clint DEMPSEY and David HEALY are Fulham's joint top scorers with four goals each; only DEMPSEY'S are all Premier League goals.
If selected:-
HEALY will be facing a former club. The 28 year old Northern Ireland international was a Manchester United trainee, making three appearances before joining Preston for £1.5m in December 2000.
Diomansy KAMARA will be making his 100th English league appearance (Portsmouth, West Brom and Fulham).
If on the field from the outset:-
Shefki KUQI will be making his 200th English league start (Stockport, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich, Blackburn, Crystal Palace and Fulham).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Cottagers' only points in six Premier League trips to the Theatre of Dreams came in a 1-3 victory on 25 October 2003, when Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque and Junichi Inamoto were their scorers.
The last two matches between the Red Devils and Fulham at Old Trafford have produced 12 goals with 4-2, and 5-1 victories for the home side.
Fulham were one of 12 clubs Manchester United 'doubled' last season, while United were one of three to do the double over the Cottagers last term.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Man Utd 31 wins, Fulham 10, Draws 13
Prem: Man Utd 8 wins, Fulham 1, Draws 3
at Man Utd only
League (inc PL): Man Utd 22 wins, Fulham 2, Draws 3
Prem: Man Utd 5 wins, Fulham 1, Draws 0
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 5-1 Fulham
20 August 2006 - Ref: Andre Marriner
Man United scorers: Saha 7, Pearce 15 og, Rooney 16, Ronaldo 19, Rooney 64
Fulham scorer: Ferdinand 40 og
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Premier League referees' table
Rob Styles's 2007-08 Premier League card count
Bookmark with:
What are these?
MANCHESTER UNITED
Your say - 606
Weather
BBC Manchester
Official club website
FULHAM
Your say - 606
Weather
BBC London Fulham audio
Official club website
SEE ALSO
How to watch Match of the Day
08 Oct 07 | Match of the Day
Rooney and Hughes handed awards
09 Nov 07 | Football
Injured Rooney out for four weeks
09 Nov 07 | Man Utd
RELATED BBC LINKS:
Football on the BBC
Your say - 606
Radio Five Live commentaries
BBC Sport club pages
RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Premier League
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Rooney has returned to full training with Man UtdOld Trafford
Monday, 3 December
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to return to face Fulham after recovering from his ankle injury.
Rooney will link up with Carlos Tevez up front and United could give recalls to Ryan Giggs, Owen Hargreaves, Edwin van der Sar and Wes Brown too.
Fulham full-back Moritz Volz will not play despite a reserve outing after his shoulder, groin and foot problems.
Phillipe Christanval, Kasey Keller, Lee Cook, Ian Pearce, Brian McBride, Simon Elliot and Jimmy Bullard are also out.
Rooney hands United boss Sir Alex Ferguson a major boost after they slipped up with a 1-0 defeat at Bolton last weekend in the Premier League.
The England striker has missed three United matches and two England games since suffering the freak injury in training.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Pique, Simpson, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.
Fulham (from): Niemi, Warner, Baird, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Konchesky, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey, Kamara, Kuqi, Healy, Bouazza, Smertin, Leijer, Seol, Volz.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"Wayne has been training with the first team and has a few extra days to prepare, so I think he will be ready. He won't need any encouragement to play that is for sure. "His endurance work is fine and his fitness levels are good. He has not even been out for a month so I wouldn't imagine it will take him a long time to get his rhythm."
"You do miss these players. You cope but you still miss them. Wayne was on a good run of form before he got injured and hopefully he can continue it."
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez:
"It's the biggest ground in the country, they are the champions, and the quality of the players on show is terrific. It's a great challenge, I'm looking forward to it. "I was lucky enough as a player to walk out of there a couple of times as a winner, so I know what it's like.
"Taking my team back there , my first time as a Premier League manager, I'm looking for us to have a go."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Manchester United defend their unbeaten home Premier League record against a Fulham side still searching for a first away win.
United have lost just two Premier League fixtures this season; Fulham have won two.
Prior to securing top spot in their group in the Champions League on Tuesday, United lost 1-0 away to Bolton. They have not suffered back-to-back defeats in 95 Premier League fixtures since April 2005.
The Red Devils are pursuing a seventh home League win on the bounce against the Premier League draw specialists in Fulham, who've finished all square on seven occasions.
Fulham made their Premier League debut at Old Trafford in August 2001. They twice led the defending champions but eventually succumbed by the odd goal in five, and have only managed to arrest maximum points from the Red Devils once in 11 subsequent attempts.
CLUB FORM
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures) 1. Last weekend's 1-0 loss at Bolton ended a 10-match unbeaten sequence in the Premier League.
2. Last lost successive league games on 9 and 20 April 2005, away to Norwich and Everton.
3. Failed to score in one of the last 11 in all competitions (v Bolton).
4. Conceded just seven Premier League goals in 14 outings; that's one every three hours. Only Liverpool have shipped fewer - six.
5. Opened the scoring in an unrivalled 10 Premier League matches this season, eight of which were won and two drawn.
6. Won the last six in league and cup at home, since losing 0-2 to Coventry in the third round of the Carling Cup on 26 September.
7. One of six Premier League clubs still holding an unbeaten home record.
8. Won the last six Premier League matches at Old Trafford against Tottenham, Sunderland, Chelsea, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Blackburn, keeping clean sheets in five of them.
9. Conceded only one home goal in this Premier League season (v Middlesbrough); the best home defensive record in the highest league.
10. Three pre-Christmas Premier League fixtures remain; against Derby (h), Liverpool (a) and Everton (h).
FULHAM
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures) 1. Won one of 11 in all competitions.
2. Won four of 31 Premier League matches in 2007 - one of the last 12; 3-1 against Reading on 3 November.
3. Won three of 19 league matches under Lawrie Sanchez.
4. The current tally of 13 points after 14 matches is their lowest ever to this stage of a Premier League campaign.
5. Still the strongest first-half club in the Premier League, leading in seven and drawing in six of their 14 games at the break.
6. Cannot close out games. Lost the lead eight times in league matches this season and beaten in an unequalled three games in which they held the lead; against Arsenal (a), Middlesbrough (h) and Aston Villa (a). Dropped an unparalleled 17 Premier League points from winning positions.
7. Yet to beat a top-half club. Drawn three and lost four of their seven fixtures against clubs currently in the top 10.
8. Drawn 50% of their league games; seven of 14.
9. The highest placed of seven clubs still without an away win in the Premier League. On the longest current streak of 23 matches without an away victory, picking up 11 points from a possible 69 since the 1-2 defeat of Newcastle at St James' Park on 9 September last year. Won two of the last 44 league games away from Craven Cottage.
10. This is the first of back-to-back league fixtures in the north-west; must visit Everton after this, before pre-Christmas home clashes with Newcastle and Wigan.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer this season with 11 goals (netted in his last 12 appearances).
RONALDO is also the leading Premier League marksman with six.
The Portugal World Cup star has scored five Premier League goals against Fulham; four in three appearances against them.
Ryan GIGGS is one short of 100 career league goals.
Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have started all of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.
Edwin VAN DER SAR will be keeping goal against his former club. The 37 year old Holland international made 154 appearances (127 in the league) for Fulham from August 2001, before signing for United in June 2005.
Louis SAHA will be facing a former club. The 29 year old France international made 143 appearances (117 in the league) and scored 63 goals (53 league) for the Cottagers between June 2000 to his £12.8m move to Old Trafford in January 2004.
If on the field from the outset:-
When he returns from injury and next plays from the outset, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.
Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).
FULHAM
Clint DEMPSEY and David HEALY are Fulham's joint top scorers with four goals each; only DEMPSEY'S are all Premier League goals.
If selected:-
HEALY will be facing a former club. The 28 year old Northern Ireland international was a Manchester United trainee, making three appearances before joining Preston for £1.5m in December 2000.
Diomansy KAMARA will be making his 100th English league appearance (Portsmouth, West Brom and Fulham).
If on the field from the outset:-
Shefki KUQI will be making his 200th English league start (Stockport, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich, Blackburn, Crystal Palace and Fulham).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Cottagers' only points in six Premier League trips to the Theatre of Dreams came in a 1-3 victory on 25 October 2003, when Lee Clark, Steed Malbranque and Junichi Inamoto were their scorers.
The last two matches between the Red Devils and Fulham at Old Trafford have produced 12 goals with 4-2, and 5-1 victories for the home side.
Fulham were one of 12 clubs Manchester United 'doubled' last season, while United were one of three to do the double over the Cottagers last term.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Man Utd 31 wins, Fulham 10, Draws 13
Prem: Man Utd 8 wins, Fulham 1, Draws 3
at Man Utd only
League (inc PL): Man Utd 22 wins, Fulham 2, Draws 3
Prem: Man Utd 5 wins, Fulham 1, Draws 0
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 5-1 Fulham
20 August 2006 - Ref: Andre Marriner
Man United scorers: Saha 7, Pearce 15 og, Rooney 16, Ronaldo 19, Rooney 64
Fulham scorer: Ferdinand 40 og
REFEREE
Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)
Premier League referees' table
Rob Styles's 2007-08 Premier League card count
Bookmark with:
What are these?
MANCHESTER UNITED Your say - 606
Weather
BBC Manchester
Official club website
FULHAM
Your say - 606
Weather
BBC London Fulham audio
Official club website
SEE ALSO
How to watch Match of the Day
08 Oct 07 | Match of the Day
Rooney and Hughes handed awards
09 Nov 07 | Football
Injured Rooney out for four weeks
09 Nov 07 | Man Utd
RELATED BBC LINKS:
Football on the BBC
Your say - 606
Radio Five Live commentaries
BBC Sport club pages
RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Premier League
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites