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The Red Devils look to be hitting some fine form at the right time of the season as they still have a chance of a successful treble winning season. With the seven point lead at the top of the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will look to increase that lead as Arsenal play on Sunday.

But with the 2nd leg of the Champions League game next week, Fergie could look to rest some players for the Chelsea game. They will be without Wayne Rooney whose hat-trick at West Ham has wrapped up some impressive form of late, but his swearing tirade at the live television cameras has resulted in a two-game ban.

With the likes of Dimitar Berbatov to come into his place, United will still be close to full strength against ex-United player Mark Hughes’ Fulham side.

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The Cottagers killed off Blackpool 3-0 last weekend and Hughes will look to get one over his old boss at Old Trafford and secure their Premier League status once and for all. However, with Fulham only winning 1 game away from home all season, three points are probably not going to come at Old Trafford.

Whilst Fulham will be fitter having not played in mid-week, United should still prove to be the stronger side, but without the in-form Rooney pulling the strings, it might not be as convincing.

Match Prediction: Man United 1-0 Fulham

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Man United are 6/1 to win 1-0, while without Rooney, they’re 25/1 to fire a blank against Fulham and City!

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Sao Paolo and Corinthians continued their battle for supremacy in the Campeonato Paulista table with victories on Sunday.Sao Paolo improved to three straight victories with a 3-0 defeat of visiting Santo Andre, with Dagoberto (9), Lucas (59) and Casimiro (67) all troubling the scorers.Corinthians rebounded from their midweek loss to Ponte Preta to edge Mirassol 3-2, despite going down to 10 men with the loss of Jorge Henrique to a second caution in the 50th minute.Serginho put Mirassol ahead 1-0 with a goal in the 26th minute, but a Willian brace after the break put the visitors in a strong position.Esley looked to have stolen a point for Mirassol when he equalised in the 89th minute, but Bruno Cesar nabbed a thrilling goal late in injury time to deny them.Sao Paolo and Corinthians join Santos on 28 points at the top of the table, separated only by goal difference.Santo Andre remain one point clear of escaping the relegation zone, while Mirassol fall to sixth following back-to-back losses.Elsewhere, Paulista rose to seventh on the table with a 2-0 win at struggling Americana, who have lost four games in a row, following goals to Hernane (65) and Fabio Gomes (74).Oeste recovered from back-to-back losses to defeat visiting Bragatino 2-0, with Jose Fabio (39) and Anselmo Ramon (71) ensuring Oeste’s slide down the table stops at eighth.Finally, Ituano and Portuguesa fought out a goal-less draw at the Estadio Romildo Vitor Gomes Ferreira.

Wayne Rooney found his scoring touch to fire Manchester United to a 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

The England striker has struggled in front of goal all season, despite impressing in all other aspects of his game, but netted two first-half strikes to set the Red Devils on the road to victory.

Villa briefly threatened a second-half comeback when Darren Bent hit his second goal since making a 24-million-pound switch from Sunderland with his only meaningful touch of the game.

But Nemanja Vidic smashed in a third to seal the victory and extend United’s unbeaten run to 24 Premier League games this season.

United were ahead inside 50 seconds with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar the unlikely architect of the goal. The 40-year-old, who will retire at the end of the season, was alert enough to launch a
quick 80-yard free-kick that Rooney got to ahead of Richard Dunne before smashing his shot into the top corner.

Nani had a penalty claim when he was barged over by Dunne and before the Portuguese winger hit a rasping 20-yard shot that brought a fine save from Brad Friedel as United tried to build on their lead.

Friedel made good stops from Patrice Evra and Dimitar Berbatov before a deserved second finally came on the stroke of half-time. Nani created space on the wing with some quick footwork before whipping in a pinpoint cross for Rooney to slot home.

Villa started the second half much brighter and pulled a goal back in the 58th minute. Stuart Downing broke at pace and laid a perfect cross for Bent to fire home past Van der Sar.

But five minutes later, United’s two-goal advantage was restored when Rooney laid the ball back for Vidic to smash in a curling shot from 15 yards with Friedel rooted to the spot.

Ashley Young’s curling effort clipped the top of the crossbar as the visitors tried to fight their way back into the game, though the goals seemed more likely to come at the other end as Berbatov blasted high over the bar and Rooney was denied a hat-trick by Friedel.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has admitted that settling in London after his move from Liverpool has been difficult, but the opportunity to play at Stamford Bridge was too good to turn down.

The Spain international forward is only starting to find form after a £50 million move to Andre Villas Boas’ men back in January, with long spells of poor form blighting his time at his new club.

However, moving to a city as big as London has been an obstacle El Nino is still to get over.

“They have no similarity, neither in their past nor in their present. My adaptation process for each has been completely distinct,” he told Esquire Espana.

“Chelsea is in London, a huge city. I come from Madrid, also a great European capital, but this is much more of everything, for good and for bad.

“It’s been difficult for me to adapt here compared to when I arrived in Liverpool, a more comfortable place, smaller, where I was surrounded by Spanish team-mates.

“In the end, the important thing is to try and organise yourself as quickly as possible. That’s what I’m doing,” he stated.

Despite being adored by the Anfield faithful during his time on Merseyside, Torres admits that the chance to join Chelsea was the right move for him, regardless of the large transfer fee.

“That’s just a number. The only thing I know is that opportunities such as the one Chelsea offered me cannot be turned down. The important thing is the confidence they have in me.

“Liverpool was going down a strange path. Personally, I believe the departure of Xabi Alonso to Madrid was a clear message that something was changing.

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“I have the ambition to improve and Chelsea could offer me what every footballer desires: titles,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Barcelona’s Dutch forward Ibrahim Afellay has been linked with a shock move to north London club Tottenham Hotspur according to The Daily Mirror.

Reports that Spurs chief scout Ian Broomfield attended last night’s Audi Cup match in Germany to run the rule over the exciting attacking winger, as Barcelona took on Internacional of Brazil. Afellay played the entire first half, hitting the woodwork with a curling effort with once chance, giving Broomfield the chance to compile a brief report for Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.

The Dutch attacking star, who only joined Barcelona in January for a cut-price fee before his contract expired, has so far found it difficult to break into Barcelona’s front three, mainly being used as just an impact substitute or in cup matches. He will find his task even harder this season after the Catalan club’s capture of Chilean attacking sensation Alexis Sanchez, which may lead Afellay, who was once heavily linked with moves to Liverpool and Arsenal, to seek a move away from the European Champions in search of more regular action.

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Spurs are closing in on 20-year old Mexican striker Antonio Pedroza Whitham, according to the Daily Mail.

The forward’s contract with club Jaguares is expiring and Spurs have reportedly agreed a fee in the region of £1 million for the player’s services. The young attacker was born in England but moved to Mexico at a young age. Pedroza would become the second player to move to White Hart Lane this summer after the acquisition of veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel from Aston Villa.

Another young striker linked with the club is 16-year old Caen prospect M’Baye Niang. The France Under-17 striker only made his first team debut in April but enjoyed a fine end to the season scoring 3 goals in 7 games. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is reported to be willing to offer up to £7 million for the youngster.

Manchester City are also chasing Niang and are rumoured to be willing to offer £10 million for his services. However, Harry Redknapp will hope to tempt to player to White Hart Lane as his side push for a return to Champions League football.

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Redknapp is rumoured to be keen to overhaul his striking options with any of Jermaine Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch believed to be available for transfer.

Sir Alex Ferguson wants his Manchester United side to concentrate solely on their Champions League semi-final against Schalke.United hold a 2-0 aggregate lead over the German side heading into the second leg of their semi final on Wednesday, and will no doubt have their crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea in the back of their minds.

And despite calling for focus on their next game, Ferguson recognised how big the next week will prove to be in United’s season with their game against Chelsea following just four days after Wednesday’s match.

“If you look at the experience of last year when we lost in the league it came after a Wednesday game against Bayern,” Ferguson said.

“The team were very tired against Chelsea in that next game. That has to have a bearing on my team selection. Two massive games both as important as the other.”

One concern for Ferguson is the fitness of striker Wayne Rooney, who failed to train on Wednesday.

Rooney is in doubt for Wednesday’s match, but midfielder Darren Fletcher will be available.

“(Rooney) didn’t train this (Tuesday) morning, he’s got a tight hamstring so we’ll see what he’s like (on Wednesday),” Ferguson said.

“Darren will play part in the game – he is involved. He has shown great improvement from his reserve game last week. He has done a lot of good work.”

United are coming off the back of a defeat away to Arsenal that has blown the Premier League title race wide open, and Ferguson recognises the need to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

“That’s the great beauty of football; at least you always have the next game to do something, and we’ve only had to wait three days really,” he said.

He also backed his players to respond against the Germans and added: “I think they’ve been through many tests like this and (the one they will face on) Sunday. So I trust that.”

Ferguson also firmly rejected the idea that the tie against Schalke is already settled given their healthy lead.

“I hope Manchester United don’t regard it as a formality, I certainly will not be,” he said. “I think you’ll find they will have a real go.”

Ferguson also used his pre-match press conference to back goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s decision to retire at the end of the season, stating the Dutch goalkeeper’s career had reached its ‘absolute pinnacle’.

He said: “All of a sudden age comes on you very suddenly, and I wouldn’t want to see Edwin van der Sar in that situation. He deserves to go out at the very, very top.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has confirmed that Fabrice Muamba has been back walking again, despite still recovering from health problems.

The ex-England under-21 international collapsed on the White Hart Lane pitch with a cardiac arrest against Tottenham a fortnight ago, but the Scottish manager has stated that Muamba is making steady progress.

“He has done some short periods of walking down the corridor he is in as part of the unit, staying in intensive care,” he told The Daily Mail.

“He is taking steps, talking and has that big smile which we love to see, so he is certainly progressing the right way.

“My chairman Phil Gartside was there on Wednesday with our club doctor Jonathan Tobin, and our club chaplain Phil Mason will be there today to continue the support from the football club.

“A couple of players have been sending him messages and we are keeping in touch. It has been great to see that smile and he continues to get better.

“We have to stress that he still has a long way to go, but the improvement has been remarkable and long may that continue,” the head coach concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa has spoken of the trails of recovering from a broken leg, and is now looking forward to getting back to playing football for the Premier League club.

The Frenchman suffered a horrific leg break in a challenge with Manchester City’s Nigel De Jong last October, but made a return in the Carling Cup against Nottingham Forest in midweek.

After intense rehabilitation, the winger is now ready to return to the Tyneside club’s first team.

“My leg was shattered in two places. One bit pointing this way, the other pointing the wrong direction, but now it has finally healed, and it is straight again! It took a year, there were setbacks along the way but now it is right. It is a massive relief,” he told Mirror Football.

“It was 11 months. I was sad and a very frustrated at times but I had to keep calm. I wanted the whole process to hurry up. I wanted it to be ready immediately.

“I have not been depressed, but I have certainly been sad. It has been hard watching the team play and not being involved. It is difficult to come back from a big injury like the one I suffered, but now it is finished and I will put it behind me,” he admitted.

Ben Arfa is looking to use the injury as a reason to appreciate his career, and feels he is stronger because of it.

“So many things went through my mind. It was not just worrying about football. It was life in general. It is difficult to explain, but it has made me a bit more patient, I appreciate my career now.

“I think it can make me a stronger person, coming through that sort of trauma. My heart is stronger. I have to make sure that, in the long run, it becomes an experience that I learn from – a good experience, in a way. Now it is finished, though.

“I am very happy to be playing again. It has been a difficult year, a long, hard time for me physically and mentally. I am delighted now to have got back on the pitch,” he concluded.

Newcastle host Blackburn at St James’ Park on Saturday, with Ben Arfa likely to be used as a substitute.

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Possibly the most exciting purchase a club can make, a striker brings with him goals, something different, and the hope of a successful season. There is never a bad moment to mention transfer rumours, as supporters are always on the lookout to see if their clubs will better the squad that’s not quite getting the job done. It’s also a time where the latest flavour of the month can get linked with anyone and everyone in the hope that one of them will stick.

But the goal scoring exploits of those abroad and their consistency suggest the Premier League is missing out on a number of top forwards. Some may be undervalued by their clubs, and others who are performing so well that a move to a bigger club is sure to materialise in the near future.

Here are ten strikers who are doing good things on the continent and would be welcome additions to English football.

Click on Loic Remy to unveil the top 10

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