The Hindu : Sport / Football : Tevez set for an early Man U debut

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Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007
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Tevez set for an early Man U debut

MANCHESTER: Wayne Rooney’s fractured foot is likely to give Carlos Tevez his Manchester United debut against Portsmouth on Wednesday.

“I would have preferred for him to wait until Sunday,” United manager Alex Ferguson said Monday. “The match against (Manchester) City would have given him a few more days training.”

United completed the Argentina forward’s move from West Ham on Friday — 48 hours before Rooney became the defending champion’s latest casualty by picking up a hairline fracture in his left foot in the Premier League opener against Reading.

Big blow

“It will be a big blow for us because obviously he’s a great player and he will be very difficult to replace,” Tevez said. “But at a big club like Manchester United you have a number of individuals who can hopefully slot in.”

In reality, there aren’t many.

That was clear in Sunday’s 0-0 draw when left back John O’Shea played up front after Rooney’s departure because both Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have only just resumed training after long-term injuries.

Despite Rooney’s two-month absence, Ferguson has ruled out signing a new partner for Tevez.

So the 23-year-old Argentine will be expected to replicate the form that helped West Ham avoid relegation last season. “The only thing I can do is prepare myself properly and to adapt to the side as quickly as possible so I can contribute,” Tevez said.

“I never feel pressure when I play football. I always go on to a pitch and try to enjoy myself and that is what I will be doing (Wednesday).”

Tevez needed 20 appearances to score last season, but then scored seven times to keep the Hammers in the Premier League. — AP

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