United were held 0-0 at home to Reading in their opening game of the new campaign, the Reds had 75% possession of the ball and weighed in with 20 shots to the visitors two, but credit to the Steve Coppell's Royals who hung on for a point despite being reduced to 10 men after second half substitute Kitson was given a straight red card for a nasty looking over-the-ball tackle on Patrice Evra.
To make matters a lot worse for United, Wayne Rooney was taken off at half time with a foot injury which has now been diagnosed as a hairline fracture which will could worst case keep the England striker out of action for up to two months.
Rooney has suffered two metatarsal bone injuries on his right foot, though the latest injury isn't thought to be as serious as the last fracture in 2006. The good news is that United will soon be able to call upon the services of Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha.
Ferguson said that if Rooney had stayed on the pitch today United would have won the game. Of those who did stay on the pitch, new signing Nani replaced Rooney and linked up well with Ronaldo in particular and in doing so showed enough to suggest that he could be a big player for United.
The Reds will be hugely disappointed with the result and certain aspects of the performance. Next up it's the Manchester derby. Bring it on.
question -- when are Solskjaer and Saha due back? It has seemed to me that Fergie lost faith in Saha at some point -- and I wonder if this will be the occasion for him (Saha) to get a few, consistent starts.
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