World Cup - Carrick doubtful for England duty

Michael Carrick looks certain to miss England's forthcoming friendlies against Chile and Germany.

The midfielder had missed three games with an Achilles injury prior to the 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Carrick was able to complete a full 90 minutes as United closed the gap on the Premier League leaders to five points.

However, he was limping badly as he left the stadium and it seems highly unlikely he will feature in the first two matches of England's build-up to next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.

"I have been carrying the injury for a few weeks now," he said.

"I was a bit patched up to play today.

"I got through it but it doesn't look too good."

Carrick will almost certainly be joined on the list of absentees by Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck.

Although the striker was named in Hodgson's squad on Thursday, he has not featured at club level since coming on as substitute against Southampton on October 19.

Moyes has said Welbeck is suffering from fluid on the knee and as the 22-year-old was not involved this afternoon, it does not seem likely he will be released for England duty.

Ask Moyes why I'm not playing! Kagawa vents frustration at lack of United action

Manchester United misfit Shinji Kagawa has voiced his frustration at being sidelined by new boss David Moyes.

Kagawa, who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson last summer, has played just seven minutes for Moyes's United this season, coming off the bench in the Community Shield win over Wigan in August.

But after scoring a fine goal for Japan in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Ghana, the playmaker took the chance to admit he was disappointed by a peripheral role at Old Trafford.

'Please ask David Moyes why I'm not in the (Manchester United) side,' Kagawa told AFP.

'It is frustrating not playing but to score a goal like that gives me confidence. Hopefully I can take that back to my club with me and things will improve.

'It's hard not playing regularly. Some days the frustration is worse than others; it comes in waves.

'So it's nice to come back to Japan and get to play, and to score felt good.

'I just have to keep working hard and keep pushing for my chance. When I get back it will be a challenge to get into the team.

Kagawa was left out of the squad altogether in United's last match, where they lost 1-0 at Liverpool.


Having been signed for £12million from Dortmund last summer, Kagawa appeared 26 times for United in all competitions during Ferguson's final season, with a highlight proving his hat-trick scored in a 4-0 home win over Norwich back in March.

Even Dortmund fans have questioned United's use of Kagawa under Moyes, with fans of the German club starting a '#FreeShinji' hashtag on Twitter earlier this summer - demanding the Premier League champions release the Japan midfielder.

Michel Platini hoping former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson can 'play a role' behind scenes at Uefa

The Uefa president Michel Platini has wished Sir Alex Ferguson a “well-earned retirement’’ but hopes the former Manchester United manager will be involved in “helping shape the direction of the sport”.

Ferguson retired last May but retains some involvement in the game as a non-executive director and club ambassador at Old Trafford and also on the end of a phone if his successor, David Moyes, needs advice. Platini indicated that he wants to tap into Ferguson’s experience. Ferguson, 71, has been on Uefa’s technical team, working for the organisation at the Champions League final at Wembley in May.

“The 2012-13 season will also be remembered as the year one of the game’s great servants called time on his career,’’ wrote Platini in his president’s message in Uefa’s season’s review released here in Monaco today. “Twice a winner of this competition as manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson has left an indelible imprint on the Uefa Champions League.

 

“It is strange to think that a coach who has featured so prominently across the European football landscape over three decades will not be seen issuing his instructions on the touchline next term. But we hope he will continue to play a role with us behind the scenes, helping shape the direction of the sport and safeguarding its future. We wish him well in his well-earned retirement.’’

Uefa used images of Ferguson embracing his former player, Cristiano Ronaldo, after Real Madrid’s visit to Old Trafford in March as “a gesture that encapsulated the spirit of Uefa’s Respect initiative – rivals on the field, friends off it’’. Ronaldo visited his old team-mates in the away dressing-room at Bernabeu after the first leg.

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa staying put after Borussia Dortmund fail to lure him back

 

Shinji Kagawa will remain at Manchester United this season after Borussia Dortmund confirmed their attempts to re-sign the Japanese midfielder have been rebuffed by the player and his club.

 

 

Kagawa, who has also been the subject of interest from Atlético Madrid, arrived at Old Trafford in a £17m transfer from Dortmund in June 2012, but has admitted his disappointment with his debut campaign at united.

With a knee ligament injury keeping Kagawa on the sidelines for three months last season, the 24-year-old restricted to just 27 appearances in all competitions.

And with Dortmund searching for a new attacking midfielder following the controversial sale of Mario Götze to Bayern Munich this summer, the club’s sporting director, Michael Zorc, has admitted that attempts were made to take Kagawa back to the Westfalenstadion.

“After the departure of Mario Götze was certain, of course, our first idea was to assess how things stand in the case Shinji Kagawa,” Zorc said.

“Shinji has always said that he would someday return to Dortmund, but after a call, it was clear that neither the player nor Manchester United were interested in an exchange at this time."