London:
Manchester United's attempt to keep up with early season pacesetter Chelsea at the top of the Premier League could be hit by key players having been injured on international duty.
Although goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar should be fit to start his first match of the season against Bolton on Saturday, striker Wayne Rooney is out because of a calf injury and midfielder Darren Fletcher also looks set to be on the sidelines.
Rooney has hit seven goals for United this season, thriving in a central position since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, and could also miss Wednesday's Champions League match at CSKA Moscow.
"Rooney's out: that's the one certainty," manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday. "We're doing our best to get him fit for Wednesday, but I've got my doubts."
With Rooney the lynchpin of United's attack, Ferguson must hope Dimitar Berbatov continues the form he showed in hitting a hat trick for Bulgaria in midweek.
Berbatov has struck three goals this season and scored a last-minute winner at Bolton last season, when United finished four points clear of Liverpool for a record-equaling 18th title and third in a row.
With United's defense looking shaky this season and conceding twice in a draw with Sunderland two weeks ago, the absence of Fletcher could be just as big a blow for United, which relies heavily on the Scotland midfielder's ability to shield the back four.
"He had an injury while training with Scotland before they went to Japan," Ferguson said.
Bolton is looking increasingly resilient having won twice and drawn twice in its last four matches to rise from 19th to 13th, and has twice won at Old Trafford since returning to the Premier League in 2001.
"They were unbelievable games and great memories to have," midfielder Ricardo Gardner said. "I was happy to be in that team and it would be fantastic to think we could do something like that again this Saturday.
"I have been here a while now and I hear people talk about these games. This is a big one for the club, for the fans, and it is massive for us as players as well."
United knows victory could help it close a two-point gap on Chelsea, which has a tough match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Villa has beaten Liverpool already this season and could trouble a Chelsea side that showed it is vulnerable when it lost 3-1 at Wigan last month. Chelsea won both last season's meetings between the sides but drew 4-4 and lost 2-0 the year before.
"There is a work ethic about Chelsea: a strength and determination that keeps them up there," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said. "When their big players are fit and mentally tuned in, they are very strong indeed.
"Saying all these things, we are capable of upsetting them this weekend. Just look at the 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge: if Zat Knight hadn't been sent off just before halftime we may well have won the game."
Also Saturday, Liverpool needs victory at Sunderland to keep its faltering campaign on track but could come up against one of its former players with a point to prove.
Former Netherlands midfielder Boudewijn Zenden, whose last appearance for the Reds was a poor showing in the 2007 Champions League final loss to AC Milan, joined on a free transfer on Friday after four months without a club.
He could make his debut Saturday.
"Bolo's performances in training have persuaded me that he has a valuable role to play this season," Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said. "He brings international class, a steadying influence and a wide breadth of experience."
Also Saturday, Arsenal hosts Birmingham, Everton hosts Wolves, Tottenham is at Portsmouth and West Ham is at Stoke. On Sunday, Blackburn hosts Burnley and Wigan hosts Manchester City, while Hull is at Fulham a day later.
Although goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar should be fit to start his first match of the season against Bolton on Saturday, striker Wayne Rooney is out because of a calf injury and midfielder Darren Fletcher also looks set to be on the sidelines.
Rooney has hit seven goals for United this season, thriving in a central position since Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, and could also miss Wednesday's Champions League match at CSKA Moscow.
"Rooney's out: that's the one certainty," manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday. "We're doing our best to get him fit for Wednesday, but I've got my doubts."
With Rooney the lynchpin of United's attack, Ferguson must hope Dimitar Berbatov continues the form he showed in hitting a hat trick for Bulgaria in midweek.
Berbatov has struck three goals this season and scored a last-minute winner at Bolton last season, when United finished four points clear of Liverpool for a record-equaling 18th title and third in a row.
With United's defense looking shaky this season and conceding twice in a draw with Sunderland two weeks ago, the absence of Fletcher could be just as big a blow for United, which relies heavily on the Scotland midfielder's ability to shield the back four.
"He had an injury while training with Scotland before they went to Japan," Ferguson said.
Bolton is looking increasingly resilient having won twice and drawn twice in its last four matches to rise from 19th to 13th, and has twice won at Old Trafford since returning to the Premier League in 2001.
"They were unbelievable games and great memories to have," midfielder Ricardo Gardner said. "I was happy to be in that team and it would be fantastic to think we could do something like that again this Saturday.
"I have been here a while now and I hear people talk about these games. This is a big one for the club, for the fans, and it is massive for us as players as well."
United knows victory could help it close a two-point gap on Chelsea, which has a tough match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Villa has beaten Liverpool already this season and could trouble a Chelsea side that showed it is vulnerable when it lost 3-1 at Wigan last month. Chelsea won both last season's meetings between the sides but drew 4-4 and lost 2-0 the year before.
"There is a work ethic about Chelsea: a strength and determination that keeps them up there," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said. "When their big players are fit and mentally tuned in, they are very strong indeed.
"Saying all these things, we are capable of upsetting them this weekend. Just look at the 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge: if Zat Knight hadn't been sent off just before halftime we may well have won the game."
Also Saturday, Liverpool needs victory at Sunderland to keep its faltering campaign on track but could come up against one of its former players with a point to prove.
Former Netherlands midfielder Boudewijn Zenden, whose last appearance for the Reds was a poor showing in the 2007 Champions League final loss to AC Milan, joined on a free transfer on Friday after four months without a club.
He could make his debut Saturday.
"Bolo's performances in training have persuaded me that he has a valuable role to play this season," Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said. "He brings international class, a steadying influence and a wide breadth of experience."
Also Saturday, Arsenal hosts Birmingham, Everton hosts Wolves, Tottenham is at Portsmouth and West Ham is at Stoke. On Sunday, Blackburn hosts Burnley and Wigan hosts Manchester City, while Hull is at Fulham a day later.
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