ON THE MARCH

…but one victory doesn’t win a championship.

Gary Neville:

"We've got to go and win the title back this season, and if we play to our capabilities, we'll win it. We've got some great new signings and we've got Rio Ferdinand back too.

"Losing Rio was a huge blow last season, and hopefully we won't have the injury problems we had last season."

Silvestre:

"It was great to have Rio back. It looked like we only played together last week because our partnership seems to be so natural. It's strange because we don't really work on it in training. [Just what DO they do then?] I guess it is because he is such a good footballer.

“Rio is a great professional and he has come back with a great attitude. He was ready for the battle and hopefully we can look forward to a few more clean sheets in the future.''

Fergie on dropping Howard:

"It wasn't a difficult decision. Tim would be the first to agree he needs a bit of time out of it.

"It sometimes happens in the second season. You are flying during the first and everything is wonderful but you don't see the blip that is waiting.

"Tim has had a blip now, so the best thing we could do was take him out. In that respect it was easy.”

On how the team is looking:

“Once we get all the players we want back people will see our real strength. The idea has just been to hang in while we get our squad back together and I always knew it was going to be a tough first six weeks.

“But also I knew once everyone was fit again we would have as good a squad as I can remember here.

“Wayne sees the specialist on Thursday and I think he will be ready for the Middlesbrough match. Gary Neville could also be ready and Louis Saha won’t be far away, too.

“If you examine our situation in depth you will quickly realise there is no call for panic.

"Of course it’s a huge setback to fall behind so early in the Premiership. It’s the last thing I wanted but I also know you have not seen the full power of a reorganised United yet.

“[On Monday] We showed a great deal of authority. The performance was so important at this stage in terms of bringing confidence to the players.

“We have won an important game and when you do that it gives you momentum.

“The thought of Wayne pulling on a United shirt is frightening.

“He is an incredible player who has a huge future ahead of him.”

O'Shea on MUTV:

"From what some people are saying you would think it was February or March. We've only played six league matches yet they are writing us out of the title race already.

“With the players we have on the field, and the ones still to come back, that is a big mistake. We have a gap to close but we are more than capable of doing it. You only have to look at the history of the club to know you should never write us off.”