INS AND OUTS

“I don't really take any interest in what is being said. The only two people who matter are myself and the manager. If there is no desire on either of our parts for me to leave, that is great.

“All I am concentrating on are the next three months, so I can fight as hard as I can to get in the side and do as much as I can for Manchester United.”

Ferguson on loaning out Danny Simpson and Lee Martin, currently at Sunderland and Stoke City respectively:

“We deliberated on that for quite a while because we wanted to make sure we made the right decision because they are both very, very good players.

“We wondered if we should keep them here for our own efforts, and have a good strong squad. But it's more important that they come back to us in the summer as better players, and they will be better through playing football.”