Reds can rise to challenge

MANCHESTER United entertain West Ham in the Premier League tomorrow with a ringing endorsement from chief executive David Gill.

Victory at home to Newcastle and a draw at Fulham last week have given the Reds a solid start to the season, and Gill insists the club will not be making more signings before the transfer window closes.

United have invested in youth in the shape of Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez, Marnick Vermijl and striker Bebe and Gill believes the squad is strong enough to challenge for the Premier League title.

United yesterday discovered their Champions League group opponents at the draw in Monaco and they will be favourites to top a group which also includes Spanish side Valencia, Scottish champions Rangers and Turkey's Bursaspor.




MANCHESTER City go into Sunday’s Premier League match at Sunderland safe in the knowledge that this week could hardly have gone better.

Roberto Mancini’s expensive stars lived up to their price tags in Monday’s 3-0 defeat of Liverpool at Eastlands.

And they were comfortable 2-0 winners over Timisoara last night as they progressed to the group stages of the Europa League 3-0 on aggregate.

Joe Hart has assumed the goalkeeper’s gloves from Shay Given in both of City’s Premier League matches this season, and, while manager Roberto Mancini has been happy to rotate his outfield players, he is less inclined to do so with the ’keeper.