Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney has insisted that the trip to Newcastle on Wednesday signals the start of a period that could define their season.
The Red Devils travel to St James’ Park hoping to hang on to their place in the top four as they push for a return to the Champions League later this year.
After visiting the North-east, Louis Van Gaal’s team play Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final, before league matches against Tottenham and Liverpool - two clubs also chasing a top-four berth.
“It’s the start of a big three weeks for us,” Rooney said. “We have done OK in the big games this year, we could do better, but it is exciting for us with these big games that you want to be involved in.
“We can’t look past Wednesday. Newcastle away is always a tough game and we have to try to make sure we come away from there with three points.”
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Much has been made of how Rooney has been used by Van Gaal this season. The Dutch coach has often opted to use the 29-year-old in midfield, instead of his usual position as a centre-forward.
Rooney played in attack on Saturday and rewarded his manager’s decision with both goals in a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
The double took Rooney’s tally to 11 for the season and moved him one goal ahead of fellow striker Robin van Persie.
The England international, however, says he is happy to play in either role. “Everyone knows I’ve played midfield for the majority of the season but my record shows that I score goals, so I’m not worried about that at all,” said Rooney.
“I was pleased the manager played me up front and am delighted to get the two goals, but the victory was the main thing because after last week it was important we bounced back.
“Where I play is down to the manager. It’s his decision where he sees me playing and I respect wherever he wants to play me.
“I’ve played up front throughout my career so, obviously, I know how to play up front. So I’m ready to play there if and when he wants me to do it.”
United will again be without the injured van Persie for match against Newcastle but Michael Carrick could start after returning from his long-term absence to take a place on the bench on Saturday.
Van Gaal must also decide whether to start Adnan Januzaj after his impressive display when he came on in place of the ineffective Angel Di Maria for the second half against Sunderland.
Mid-table Newcastle hope to record back-to-back victories after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa all but secured another season of Premier League football on Tyneside.
Midfielder Jack Colback serves the second of a two-match ban after reaching 10 bookings. Massadio Haidara, the defender carried off with a knee problem at the weekend, hopes to be available for selection.
Top scorer Papiss Cisse secured the win over Villa with his 11th goal of the season, and the Senegal international is confident Newcastle can improve their unimpressive home record against United.
They’ve beaten the Old Trafford club just once in the last 11 visits, and Cisse said: “The Villa win was an important victory, and sets us up nicely for Manchester United.
“It’s a game we need to be ready for. Every player in the squad is up for this game and it’s just been a matter of getting as much rest as possible since the weekend to be at our best on Wednesday.”
Cisse has been playing despite a persistent knee problem. The 29-year-old is hopeful of making the starting line-up in midweek, and caretaker head coach John Carver revealed: We’re having to manage Papiss’ situation, and we will see what he is like over the next few days.”
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46', De Bruyne 65', Gundogan 70')
Aston Villa 0
Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Emirates exiles
Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.
Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.
Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.
Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.
Islamic%20Architecture%3A%20A%20World%20History
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
