United duo nearing full fitness

SOCCER SHORTS: MANCHESTER United are preparing for a double dose of good news on the injury front. Midfield pair Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves could both be back in action ahead of next Saturday's Old Trafford clash with West Brom after recent injuries.

Carrick has been struggling with an ankle problem for the majority of the season, missing six games since his last appearance against Liverpool at Anfield in September.

Meanwhile, Hargreaves has been plagued by a tendinitis injury since he arrived at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich 16 months ago. Alex Ferguson will be pleased to have the pair back in action - especially as Paul Scholes's knee injury will keep him out until December.

"We are expecting Michael to be available next week," Ferguson said yesterday.

"He is almost back to full training now. Owen is much better and we will pencil him in for the West Brom game without question."

Milan insist Kaka is not for sale

AC Milan insist brilliant Brazilian Kaka is not for sale - at any price.

Milan's sporting director Umberto Gandini said that Kaka "won't be sold at all" and will remain at the club at least until his current contract expires in 2013.

Kaka is in Venezuela with the Brazil squad and knows nothing about recent speculation linking him with Manchester City.

Reports in Sunday's newspapers suggested the Eastlands outfit were planning big-money moves for a number of high-profile players as well as for the gifted playmaker.

However, it is understood Kaka is an admirer of the Premier League and has been thinking about playing for a top English club at some point in his career.

Henry happy at Barcelona

BARCELONA forward Thierry Henry has called for the speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City to stop.

Reports in England and France have claimed the former Arsenal forward is a target for the new owners at Eastlands - the Abu Dhabi United Group - and suggested a deal with Barcelona will be struck in the January transfer window. Talk of a move arose after Henry himself hinted in September that he was unhappy in Spain due to a combination of a lack of playing time through injury and new coach Pep Guardiola's insistence of playing the Frenchman on the left wing.

But following France's 2-2 draw with Romania on Saturday, Henry insisted he was happy at the Nou Camp and demanded an end to rumours over his future. "One thing's for sure, the Manchester City thing and all the things you're talking about need to stop," he said. "I've played three matches in the league and I've scored twice. So there you go. I missed two (games) because I was ill."

Real Madrid still hoping to sign Ronaldo

REAL Madrid coach Bernd Schuster is hopeful that Cristiano Ronaldo will be wearing the Spanish team's colours this time next year.

Madrid's pursuit of Ronaldo this summer was one of the most protracted and high-profile transfer sagas of recent years, but it ultimately ended in disappointment for the Primera Liga champions with the Portugal winger opting to remain at Manchester United.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to one day play for Madrid though, and Schuster still believes a deal could be struck in 2009 for the player.

"I think that next year it is going to be a little more complicated for his club to retain him. There is hope that next year he could be with us," said Schuster.

"You need to do everything possible (to sign Ronaldo) because this player is worth it," added the German.

"Since the start I thought it was possible although difficult. Possible because the player really showed an interest," he said.

Moyes thought about quitting

DAVID Moyes has admitted he once felt he may have spent "too long" at Everton - but changed his mind after an "inspirational" talk from Bobby Robson.

Moyes's future at Goodison Park has been the subject of uncertainty this summer because he is still to sign a new contract. He is expected to finally sign before next weekend but has revealed he did fear last summer that the time may have come to move on. "It had been going through my head that to be at one club for six and a half years was a long time, possibly too long," he said. Moyes said after listening to a Robson speech at a managers' dinner: "Bobby got up to speak about his time in management and said he had been at Ipswich for more than 12 years. And it made me think how lucky I was to have been at Everton for six and a half years in a period when managers may get one or two years in a job."

Whelan warning for top clubs

DAVE Whelan, the owner of Premier League club Wigan Athletic, warned yesterday that a top English club could be crippled by debt if their foreign owner "spits out his dummy" and leaves.

Whelan (71) said he feared the global financial crisis could force an owner to walk away, saddling the club with huge debts. Whelan also said that a form of salary capping was the only way to avoid a top club going into receivership.