Manchester United are looking to reinvigorate their season as the club’s big summer signings are set to grace Old Trafford this afternoon against Queens Park Rangers.
The Reds are yet to win a game in the league this season and recently suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat to League One MK Dons.
They also have injury concerns over Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Ashley Young to add to their problems.
But alarm bells are not ringing at Old Trafford, at least not according to August’s Player of the Month Phil Jones, who remained positive in an interview with manutd.com.
“It is a marathon not a sprint, but we need to start winning games and that starts on Sunday,” he said.
“We need to get Champions League football again. I don’t think that’s an unrealistic target.”
And they will have cause for optimism with the impending debuts of Luke Shaw, Radamel Falcao and Daley Blind.
Shaw has finally reached the fitness levels required of him by Louis van Gaal, while Falcao and Blind trained with the squad for the first time on Thursday and look set to start on Sunday.
“Luke Shaw is fit enough to play some minutes but not the whole game,” Van Gaal said at a press conference on Friday.
The Dutchman was unimpressed with the youngster after the summer break, making him train alone until judging him fit enough to join the rest of the team.
Van Gaal was happy with the club’s summer acquisitions though, but warned against fans expecting immediate results.
“We’ve done very well in the transfer market. That’s a big plus, and we have to produce results, starting against QPR.
“The fans shall expect a new start, of course, but we have to build up a new hierarchy and that always needs time.”
Daley Blind, meanwhile, was full of praise for his manager when speaking to manutd.com: “I’m happy to work again with the coach.
“I’ve learned a lot from him and hope I learn more and get better with every game.”
Newly promoted QPR earned their first points of the season with a 1-0 win over Sunderland before the international break, but have also had a tough start to the season.
And just like United they could also hand debuts to a host of new summer signings.
Brazilian midfielder Sandro, Croatian playmaker Niko Kranjcar and Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas may all feature for the West London side, while Joey Barton is a doubt with a hamstring problem.
Rio Ferdinand will be available however, and will return to Old Trafford for the first time after ending twelve years of service in May.
Image courtesy of MUTV, via YouTube, with thanks
