Ryan Giggs feels the wealth of experience available to Manchester United could give them the edge in this season's Premier League title race.

The Red Devils have moved level on points with local rivals Manchester City and now trail them only on goal difference.

However, the Blues still appear the ones to beat having played most of the top six contenders away from home.

United, meanwhile, have taken them all on at Old Trafford, apart from Liverpool, including October's 6-1 massacre by City.

Nerve

Yet Giggs feels his chances of securing a record 13th championship medal in May depend upon which side keeps their nerve on the run-in.

And, having embarked on that journey so many times before, the veteran Welshman is confident United will come through the test.

"The experience that the manager, the players and the coaching staff have of what's required in the second half of the season, as well as the overall hunger and desire to win competitions will help us," Giggs told United's official website.

"Big players can't wait for big games and towards the end of the season the games just get bigger and bigger.

"You want that in the run-in - you want to be involved in big games and going for the title. That's why you become a footballer."

Barring an unexpected disaster against basement boys Blackburn at Old Trafford on New Year's Eve, United will end 2011 on top of the table because City are not in action at Sunderland until 24 hours later.

It is an amazing achievement in a season scarred by that City defeat, in addition to a calamitous exit from the UEFA Champions League group phase.

Those setbacks heaped enormous pressure onto the Red Devils, although Giggs was not surprised by that.

Criticism

"You're always going to get criticism here," he said. "If you're not top of the league there's something wrong and if you get knocked out of competitions you're always going to get criticised.

"That's something you just have to get used to. You can't sulk or moan about it.

"We've had setbacks throughout the years and you learn from them and they can help in a way."

EXCLUSIVE: Smalling shock for United as fever may force defender out for three months

Manchester United fear key defender Chris Smalling could be out for three months with glandular fever.

Smalling, 22, missed the Boxing Day win over Wigan with what was thought to be a heavy cold, but the illness is more serious and he will remain on the long list of United players currently sidelined through injury or illness.

The acute stage of glandular fever — usually involving flu-like symptoms and fatigue — lasts up to two weeks, but sufferers cannot do strenuous exercise for at least two months. For a professional footballer, it will be longer.

That would be a huge setback for Smalling and United, already without Darren Fletcher, Nemanja Vidic, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley, Anderson, Jonny Evans, Fabio Da Silva and Michael Owen.

Former Liverpool and Sunderland physio Mark Leather believes United’s £10million signing from Fulham could be out for three months if his illness is confirmed by the club.

He said: ‘You can get back into shape in two months but it might be another three to four weeks before you’re firing on all cylinders. The first time he would be able to play a full game would be nearer to three months.’

Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones missed the win over Wigan but are expected back for Saturday’s clash with Blackburn at Old Trafford.

Oh FFS if this is true but I hope he recovers fast:(.

****ing hell......Our whole backline apart from Evra are injured or have been injury prone this season.


How suitable it is that Evra is the one showing bravery and leadership for the replacements coming in to the team aswell as fighting for the cause after you know what...

Chris Smalling is suffering from tonsillitis and looks set to only miss Saturday's clash with Blackburn after sitting out the win over Wigan.

It had been reported on Friday morning that the England international could be out of action for three months with glandular fever but Sir Alex set the record straight at his press conference ahead of the game with struggling Rovers.

The cultured defender should be fit to play at Newcastle in United's first assignment of 2012 but is one of several stars sidelined for the New Year's Eve encounter at Old Trafford.

"Chris Smalling has got tonsillitis," confirmed Sir Alex. "I know there are reports about glandular fever but they're off the mark.

"He had glandular fever as a kid but that's not the case here. He should be ready for the Newcastle game, at least definitely the Manchester City game in the FA Cup. He'll be ready for those games."

The other injuries are causing some frustration at Carrington after problems at the back forced a major reshuffle against Wigan.

"We don't have much change," updated the boss. "Obviously injuries to the defenders are quite a concern now, with Jonny Evans taken off at half-time [on Monday]. We're hoping Phil Jones will be fit, there's possibly an outside chance that Rio Ferdinand will get on the bench. Other than that, we're the same."

Phew, what a relief that is:).

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov's goalscoring form across the festive period has earned him an extra year at Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson confirming that the club will extend the Bulgarian's contract.

United have a one-way option to extend Berbatov's deal by 12 months, and they will take advantage of that clause when it becomes active in March. His existing contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Ferguson said: "We'll be exercising [the option to renew]. I think it kicks in in March."

Berbatov, who hit a hat-trick against Wigan on Boxing Day, has expressed his desire to stay at United, but was linked with a return to Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week. The 30-year-old has found first-team opportunities hard to come by this season, making just two starts in the league.

He left Leverkusen for Tottenham in 2006, before completing a £30m move to United two years later.

I am thrilled about this news!:):D

Nice one Berba :)


Seems a really cool guy and he obviously scored a few aswell :p

Sion given a 30 points deduction by the Swiss FA. Ouch at the punishment, at least it means that United are not returning to the Champions League now as we deserved to go out that night and it means Basle can keep their deserved place:)

Thank God.....My travel ticket to Amsterdam isn't a waste then :p

Update on injuries: Cleverley, Owen 'nowhere near' fitness. Fabio 10 days away, Anderson training well but needs gym time, Smalling back for Newc/City

Strong stuff from SAF on @tomclevz23 - "He, to my mind, is the best midfield player in Britain, potentially. He has fantastic promise, so it's a loss to us."

Vidic undergoes successful surgery: Nemanja Vidic is on course to return to action next term after a successful ... http://bit.ly/vFf1g2

Have a speedy recovery Nemanja :(. I miss him winning every header with ease :joker:

Happy 70th Birthday to the greatest ever Football Manager.. Sir Alex Ferguson!:devil::cool::):thumbs:

I hope United can get the win to go to top of the league and what a way it would be to celebrate his birthday...

We actually have NO fit defender as i don't count Paddy as one any more although i expect either one of Rio or Jones to play 2moz

Also dont want to see Clev rushed back into the team 2moz that's what got him injured when he came back+ we should have enough to beat Blackburn

We actually have NO fit defender as i don't count Paddy as one any more although i expect either one of Rio or Jones to play 2moz

Also dont want to see Clev rushed back into the team 2moz that's what got him injured when he came back+ we should have enough to beat Blackburn

Arse holes

Happy Birthday Sir.....


Will hand over my girl to you :worship:

Great man
http://www.stretford-end.com/wp-cont...rguson-001.jpg

Ooh Aye!

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...HKKD2aW8uUYCiG

All he needs is that Europa Cup.......................We know what to do.

Peeps what do you make of the whole Keane Vs Fergie debacle. TBH i'm team Keane and like he said Fergie owes a lot to to keane cause lets face it without him no way do United win the champs league in 99 and he was the main driving force behind most of the league wins in that time

WTF is the point in starting a CM of Park and Rafeal complete nonsense.

What the **** is Fergie doing i have never seen so many **** decsions in one game

Rafeal and Park starting CM partnership
Park Starting Full Stop
Valencia Starting at right back when we have a proper right back on the field
De Gea starting ahead of Lindy when lindy has shown to be the better keeper
Berbatov marking Samba at set peices
No Rooney in the squad SNM

****ing ridiculous and he has made many of these odd decsions in the last couple of seasons yet no one bats an eyelash

Loss all on Fergie worst team selection i have seen in many years

What else would you of done ffs?


In case you never realised we are fortunate to of had 11 first team players out there. Out of position or not. Not his fault Carrick at CB was pretty much the only choice we had.


2 goals at home vs Blackburn is usually enough....


So livid right now. Imma go get ready for Central. I will be daggering females in anger today.

^^^ Not Carricks fault at all in fact if not for him covering for Evra and Jones it could have been worse

WHAT COULD HE HAVE Done are you being serious well let me see

Not start with Park and fuken Rafeal as our cm partnership when we have Carrick,Pogba,Ando who are actually CM's

Not have Berba YES Berba marking there best aerial threat

Actually have our best player in the SQUAD

Why when Lindy has not conceded a goal in the Prem is he dropped

I have said this for weeks and weeks but paddy has to be DROPPED or made play on the wing because he does not DEFEND at all

The 2nd & 3rd goals would NOT of happened if Jones had Vidic,Rio or even Evans next to him. I am pretty sure of that. We lost this due to our makeshift defense being exposed. Our CMs and Attack managed to create enough to score twice.

What else could Fergie do? Play CB himself and tackle Yakubu?

We deserved that loss, not good enough plus complacency and the team selection also played part in it:bored:...

DDG really messed up on the 3rd but it was not only his fault that we lost because the whole team is to blame, although I still believe in DDG he can't keep making mistakes like that...

United need to make some signings which most fans are saying but SAF is burying his head in the sand, we'll always back the great man but what a sour note his birthday has ended on.