Buzzin Football

Top club managers across the country and probably world will be cursing the international break, albeit a World Cup break, as key players to their teams return from international duty broken and bandaged, but I doubt any will curse quite as much as Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafael Benitez.

The news that Wayne Rooney isn’t fit for Manchester United’s game on Saturday is perhaps no surprise, but as one of Manchester United’s key players already this season, it does leave a gaping hole for Ferguson to fill.

And poor old Rafa will have to do without what are considered to be his two best players as neither Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres have returned to fitness following injuries during World Cup games.

Considering that none of the three mentioned took part in the mid week games it seemed probable that they would be fit for this weekend, but with Champions League games next week the managers may feel that the players would not be worth risking  for the Premier League games.

Certainly Sunderland will fancy their chances at home to Liverpool, having rattled Ferguson’s cage at Old Trafford last week when United grabbed an equaliser in the last minute of injury time, Steve Bruce will definitely believe his team can beat a stuttering Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are likely to have former Liverpool player Bolo Zenden in the team and he too will feel he still has a point to prove, although in fairness he didn’t prove it at Liverpool or Chelsea.

Gary Megson must also believe that Bolton can get something out of United, even at Old Trafford. The team has toughened up once again under Megson and their physical style will make it tough for United to break down unless someone can step in and fill Rooney’s boots.