Reds set for overseas action

14/11/2006 15:54, Report by Nick Coppack



Cristiano Ronaldo hopes to play in Portugal’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Kazakhstan on Wednesday, despite picking up an injury in the Reds’ 1-0 win at Blackburn.

Ronaldo limped off with a sore ankle on Saturday but insists he’s now fit enough to represent his country. Portugal are currently struggling in Group A with just four points from three games.

Elsewhere, the Republic of Ireland host San Marino in a match that should see Reds' defender John O’Shea win his 30th cap. Steve Staunton’s Irish side need a victory to keep their qualifying hopes alive, while defeat will condemn them to the foot of the table.

Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has been recalled to the Polish squad for the crunch trip to Belgium. It’s the first time Kuszczak has been picked for his country since the summer’s World Cup finals. Both Group A teams currently have seven points after four games.

United’s other internationals will appear in friendly matches, with six heading to Amsterdam for England’s encounter with Holland on Wednesday. Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand are all expected to start, while Wes Brown, Kieran Richardson and goalkeeper Ben Foster give England manager Steve McClaren strong options off the bench.

Gary Neville withdrew from the England squad after suffering a recurrence of the calf injury that kept him out of the World Cup. He’s expected to return for the Reds when they meet Chelsea at Old Trafford later this month.

Ryan Giggs will captain Wales on Tuesday night in their home friendly against Liechtenstein. Giggs returns to the squad after missing the last two Euro 2008 qualifiers – home matches against Cyprus and Slovakia – through injury.

Louis Saha will be looking to score his second goal in as many games for France when they host Euro 2004 champions Greece at the Stade de France on Wednesday. Saha netted the opener in France’s 5-0 thrashing of the Faroe Islands last month. Meanwhile, Reds' defender Patrice Evra finds himself back in the national squad after impressing at club level in recent months.

If it weren’t for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hamstring injury, he could have found himself under close scrutiny from tough-tackling United defender Nemanja Vidic. Norway travel to Belgrade to take on a Serbian side who currently top their Euro 2008 qualifying group. Vidic will look to win his 21st international cap.

credit: manutd.com