Following Paul Scholes' return from retirement and Manchester United's issues settling in a new number one goalkeeper, Edwin Van der Sar has revealed people have been asking whether he has any plans on doing the same.

"I got a few text messages from friends saying, 'What about you?'," Van der Sar said.

Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his opinion that no one is more important at the club than him.

The most recent example came a few weeks ago when the manager fined our top earner, Wayne Rooney, and dropped him from the squad after coming to Carrington unfit to train following an evening out.

After Wednesday night's magnificent win and performance it's back to the bread & butter of the Academy League as United make the trip to West Bromich Albion to face a team they beat 2-1 back in November at Carrington. West Brom also come into this game off the back of a win in the 4th [...]

United's under 18s fell behind three times but each time pegged their opponents back to earn a point and a few lessons against Bolton's under 18′s at Carrington this morning. In steadily worsening conditions throughout the 90 minutes, United failed to get into their stride and dominate possession like they had been doing in the [.

Tomorrow sees the return of the Premier Academy League as United take on Bolton at Carrington in an 11am kickoff. These sides met in early November in what proved to be a enjoyable game between two teams so far struggling for consistency this season. The match ended in a 2-1 win for United with goals [.

Paul Scholes has paid tribute to the facilities at Carrington. He said, "Everything can be done here that is needed to support a football team." Paul hailed Carrington while he was speaking about the inner workings of the training complex during an exclusive MUTV programme - Inside Carrington. He further said, "Having the Academy here is great and it's all geared towards a family feel and I'm

In a wind and rain affected 90 minutes at Carrington today, Liverpool stole the points in the first and last minutes to grab a second win in just six weeks over United's improving youngsters. The minutes in between saw United ride their luck and spurn opportunities in equal measure. Jack Dunn was Liverpool's match-winner with [.

It's generally agreed in the Kickette office that these two poppets could wear buckets on their heads and still be hot as hell. Image: REUTERS/Phil Noble, Alex Livesey/Getty Images.

If you live outside of the UK, you may not be able to comprehend how the country is experiencing a record-breaking autumn.

By Chris Wright

Nothing more, nothing less just Pies' pick of the 12 finest stills from the various pre-Champions League training sessions taking place across the continent over the past few hours...

◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 12

Javier Hernandez clearly enjoyed Manchester United's training session at Carrington.

Ahead of tomorrow night's Champions League game against Benfica, Ravel Morrison, Davide Petrucci and Zeki Fryers trained with the first team at Carrington today.

"Morrison, Petrucci and Fryers Train With First Team" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Mats Daehli stole the show at Carrington yesterday as Manchester United's Academy boys saw off a somewhat spirited fight from West Bromich Albion. Mats was the difference scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory that saw United extend their current winning streak to five games and maintain the momentum that's building up nicely to begin [.

The Academy have won all four of their last four outings (including two friendlies in Slovakia) and they will no doubt be hoping to continue that run of results when they host West Bromich Albion's Academy at Carrington tomorrow morning. West Brom are one position below United in the Premier Academy League and were beaten 4-2 last [.

Nicky Butt has today revealed that he has started taking his coaching badges to fulfil his ambition of becoming a manager.

"I've started my badges now and am getting the hours in," Butt said. "I'll get assessed in the next five or six months. I go to Carrington a lot and just watch, I don't really take any of the sessions.

Since Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira joined Manchester United from Porto back in 2007 the Old Trafford faithful have been split over the midfielder's influence, importance and ability to be included in Sir Alex Ferguson's first team. Gifted? Yes. Committed? One thinks so. Frustrating? Also at times yes.

By Alan Duffy

It's not quite modelling, but beleaguered centre-half Rio Ferdinand recently Tweeted a photo of himself in a fashionable yet hideous onesie. The item was given to the United star by his kids for his 45th birthday, so good on the player for showing it to the public, although the black slip-ons rather ruin the look (and is that Scalextric in the photo his or his kids?

International breaks are woeful, particularly when the grand majority of the games being played are friendlies. The playoffs provide a degree of intrigue, but it's not exactly Spain v Germany duking it out for football supremacy.

Thankfully, Manchester City and, of course, Carlos Tevez have ridden in to save the headline-starved international siesta: Carlitos is AWOL.

By Chris Wright

There's only one thing that Carlos Tevez loves more than a spur-of-the-moment South American city break with the kids and that's breaching his Man City contract, so you can imagine just how giddy he was after succesfully managing to combined this two twin passions yesterday.

Henry Winter, The Telegraph

On his 25th anniversary, Sir Alex is being hailed as one of the greatest managers of all time. Rightly so. He possesses the four qualities that shape the finest leaders of footballing men: he buys well, bonds well, prepares well and exudes an aura. Never underestimate the power of an aura in a sport where psychology is key.

People will tell you that when someone of power and prominence walks into a room, before you have even seen them, you feel their presence. It's an absurd notion really. The idea that anyone has an invisible aura of authority or influence is at best descriptive indulgence, more accurately it's physically not possible.

Manchester City are alone at the summit of the table, for now at least, and are beginning to look more and more like potential favorites to lift the trophy, or at least provide a very serious threat to their cross-town rivals Manchester United as well as last season's runners-up Chelsea.

But one of the key components of this rise, a man whose signing was a signal of intent to the world, is now left to train by himself and wonder what will become of his future, which surely lies away from the Carrington training grounds he now practices on by himself.

By Chris Wright

Carlos Tevez was forced to train alone in footballing limbo on his return to Man City this afternoon after serving a two-week ban and saw fit to plug his new 'Tevez 32′ clothing company both before and after his solitary session at Carrington...

(Sky) blue steel, work it bitch!

Back in April 2005, who would have one day predicted we would be talking about Rio Ferdinand playing in his tenth season at Manchester United. Less than three years after joining the club, the then 26-year-old defender was spotted with in restaurants with Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, on two occasions that month.

By Chris Wright

A lovely little souvenir was waiting for Carlos Tevez when he returned home to Alderley Edge after being formally served with his suspension at Carrington this morning a little reminder of his current standing with the City faithful, y'know, just in case it'd slipped his mind.

By Chris Wright

You may remember not-so-very long ago when Pies broke the huge news that Michael Owen was a closet 1,000-piece equine jigsaw junkie. No? How could you possibly let an earth-shaking story like that slip from your memory?

Very well, let's move on.

Seems like L'il Micky's Manchester United teammates have now cottoned on to his penchant for the puzzle, taking a tell-all magazine clipping and blu-tacking it up in Owen's segment of the dressing room wall at Carrington, along with a rather hurtful sticker that read 'ZZZZ!

Lost amid all the debates and media coverage about the respective merits of David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard, Tomasz Kuszczak silently fades into oblivion and obscurity, left out in the cold by Alex Ferguson and stranded at Old Trafford with his only football coming on the Carrington training ground and in meaningless reserve matches.

United's U18′s took on Middlesboro at Carrington today in a later than usual midday kickoff. After an impressive start to the season United's young guns took on what proved to be a very determined, well organised Middlesboro team who showed they were capable of matching United stride-for-stride. The game got off to a flying start [.

Owen Hargreaves: Manchester United to Manchester City via Oblivion - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Owen Hargreaves is to join Manchester City in one of the most dramatic and sensational transfer deals of the summer after the ex-Manchester United player agreed to undertake a pay-as-you-play deal for the Champions League debutantes.

By Chris Wright

It's official. All you gooners can start saying your goodbyes to Samir Nasri as Arsenal have agreed a fee with Man City (somewhere around £24 million) who have, in turn, agreed personal terms with the jinky Gallic schemer, who is now thought to be heading to Carrington as we speak to undergo a routine medical.

By Rumour Monger

Samir Nasri is expected to undergo a medical at Carrington before completing a move to Manchester City over the weekend, amid growing claims from his homeland that the wayward Frenchman actually had his heart set on a move to...this isn't going to go down well.

By Chris Wright

Feel free to have a stab at captioning this photo of Carlos Tevez leaving after training with his beloved Man City teammates at Carrington this morning...

Pies says: "Wayne Bridge...Wayne...****ing...Bridge"

You say?

By CALEB SONNELAND

The future of Carlos Tevez seems to have taken yet another turn.

The want-away Argentine hit man has returned to Manchester City's Carrington training ground for a light session.

Earlier this summer, a hefty bid for Tevez was made by Corinthians after the striker made it clear that he wasn't happy with life in Manchester, but a move was never finalized and Tevez looked destined to remain a City player.

By Chris Wright

Carlos Tevez, seen here brimming over with giddy delight at the prospect of joining the rest of his Man City teammates for training as he pulled into the carpark at Carrington about two hours ago (approx 10am, Manc time)...

Photos: PA

By Chris Wright

"I don't expect you to talk Mr Wright-Phillips, I expect you to die..."

According to the Metro of all people, Mario Balotelli is currently encamped deep within the confines of his underground lair, feverishly plotting revenge on his Man City teammates after they banded together and planted a bag of kippers behind the front seat of his Maserati before they all toddled off to the States for a fortnight-long pre-season tour.

By Chris Wright

"I don't expect you to talk Mr Wright-Phillips, I expect you to die..."

According to the Metro of all people, Mario Balotelli is currently encamped deep within the confines of his underground lair, feverishly plotting revenge on his Man City teammates after they banded together and planted a bag of kippers behind the front seat of his Maserati before they all toddled off to the States for a fortnight-long pre-season tour.

Sir Alex Ferguson over the weekend claimed that Manchester United had finished their business for the summer.

"We are not looking at the moment but we are looking at combinations of central midfielders now at the club," he claimed earlier this week, much to the horror of United fans.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that Manchester United had finished their business for the summer.

"We are not looking at the moment but we are looking at combinations of central midfielders now at the club," he claimed earlier this week, much to the horror of United fans.

Last season, the central midfield was crying out for a new addition, with United resorting to padding the midfield to compensate for the lacking quality.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Antonio Valencia has flown back to Manchester to receive treatment and will play no part in our tour of the US.

"Antonio has gone straight back to Manchester," said Ferguson. "He got an injury playing in the first game for Ecuador so he is back in Manchester.

By Chris Wright

When asked about his reported intrest in nabbing Samir Nasri from Arsenal this summer at a presser ahead of Manchester United's pre-season tour of Yankland, Sir Alex Ferguson put the kibosh on the tittle-tattle, claiming that Nasri has another suitor lined up:

"I don't think he is coming to United.

By Chris Wright

It's official people Manchester United have a new No. 1.

Four days after being crowned European U21 Champions with Spain, David De Gea has signed a five-year deal at United moving to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid for somewhere around £17 million, a fee which pushes Sir Alex's summer spending beyond the £50 million mark.

David De Gea is at Carrington having his medical with Manchester United.

Having won the U-21 European Championships, De Gea can now concentrate on his domestic future. His signing has from Atletico Madrid has been the worst kept secret in football, right up until the day of his medical, with his people failing at keeping him hidden upon his arrival.