Manchester United hard pressed to get off to a good start

Manchester United had two key players fall out during the World Cup, sold last season’s leading scorer and then watched its only new outfield signing get injured until September.

Manager Alex Ferguson’s wish for a good start to the Premier League season may go unfulfilled.

United opens against Fulham tomorrow seeking victory as a fillip before losing striker Wayne Rooney and midfielder Paul Scholes to suspension for three matches after they were sent off in a pre-season tournament in Holland.

“Losing both Wayne and Paul is a real problem,” United winger Ryan Giggs said. “But we have got a big enough squad to cope and we just have to deal with it.”

Despite Rooney and Scholes being free to play Fulham, the Football Association’s decision to implement the bans has angered United.

“It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking,” United captain Gary Neville said. “But what do you expect? I certainly didn’t expect anything else. We don’t look after our own in this country.”

After Fulham, the Red Devils play at Charlton on Wednesday and Watford next Saturday. “We start the season with three games in six days and we have to be ready for those matches,” Giggs said. “You need a good base of fitness and match sharpness for those games.”