I bring you Stretty Stories much later than usual today because I spent last night out for my friend’s 21st birthday, but party or not I’m here to bring you all the news from tomorrow’s chip paper. Michael Owen is wary of Wembley, Cleverley is going to stay and has been likened to Paul Scholes, and Welbeck and Diouf are set to leave on loan.
Owen wary about new playing surface at Wembley – The Guardian
The last time Michael Owen played at Wembley he was sidelined for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, now he’s concerned about playing at Wembley again this weekend for the Community Shield. The pitch has been relaid twice since Owen’s injury, but there is still come concern with the risks of the new turf. Honestly, I’m slightly worried about the match this weekend because Wembley seems like a minefield. It seems like injuries are almost unavoidable there, I just hope our team comes through unscathed.
Carrick to miss start of new season – The Daily Telegraph
Following his injury against the Airtricity League XI, Michael Carrick will now be sidelined for two weeks meaning he’ll miss the start of the season. Having not featured at all during the World Cup, Carrick is definitely short of match fitness and clearly an injury 20 minutes into his preseason won’t help. With Anderson and Hargreaves both long-term injuries in the centre of midfield, we’re running low on numbers in that position. Meanwhile Rafael and Fabio have both been sidelined by food poisoning and are doubtful for the beginning of the season.
Cleverley stays, Diouf and Welbeck set for loans – The Daily Mail
Sir Alex has confirmed he will be keeping Tom Cleverley this season while Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf are set for loans at Sunderland and Blackburn respectively. This is the perfect scenario for loans in my opinion. With our striker options plentiful, Welbeck and Diouf are much more likely to get games on loan elsewhere. Meanwhile, with the midfield is the one area of concern, Tome Cleverley could provide the necessary flair in midfield. He’s already shown both with Watford last season and in preseason that he is capable of playing at the highest level.
Fergie: Tom can be new Scholes – The Sun
And with Cleverley staying, Sir Alex believes the young midfielder can contribute goals from midfield. Cleverley has already scored twice this preseason, and the one against the MLS All-Stars was pure class. Sir Alex has said gone are the days of Scholes scoring 15 a season from the midfield, but he believes Cleverley is ready to pick up the burden of scoring goals from the midfield. I always get excited about a young star rising through the ranks to the first team, and I think in Cleverley we may just have a star.
Discuss all today’s news and rumors in the forum.
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