I'm Back

There's progress reports on Wayne Rooney in the papers this morning, with this in The Daily Star suggesting that Rooney, as well as Evra and Nani could all be fit for Sunday's game against West Ham:

The indications are that Rooney is nearing full fitness again after a five-match absence with a hamstring injury.

French defender Patrice Evra is also set to be fit for the trip to Upton Park, following an ankle injury suffered against Chelsea a month ago.

Nani is another player who could come into contention, after suffering a groin injury against Derby in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg victory.

While The Sun implies that Rooney might not figure against West Ham so that he won't be able to figure in the England friendly next week:

the striker has made such progress he went through the same routine as the rest of the first-team stars yesterday.

If there is no reaction, he could even find himself in the squad to face West Ham away on Sunday.

Yet with an England friendly in Spain next Wednesday, the likelier date for his comeback is the FA Cup clash at Derby or Nottingham Forest on February 15.

The Daily Star also report Paddy Crerand's comments on Liverpool made to MUTV:

"I honestly don't think Liverpool are a threat in the title race. The threat to United now is United themselves. Injuries and things like that are the only problem now. I fancy United strongly to win the league."

There's also comments from Ronaldo doing the rounds today, this from The Sun has the fullest account:

The Manchester United star has got so used to abuse from opposition fans that without it he gets paranoid.

Ronaldo, 24 tomorrow, said: “It’s normal for me now. If it doesn’t happen, I’m thinking, ‘Why aren’t they booing?’

“It’s part of football. Maybe they think if they boo I’ll lose my concentration — but it doesn’t happen because I like it.”

There is one paragraph in the report that could be improved by the addition of one word:

Ronaldo first became football’s public enemy for his diving, which he has since eradicated from his game.

Yes, there should be the word "alleged" in between "his" and "diving"...