TOO HIGH, TOO FAR, TOO SOON

Last updated : 01 August 2004 By Ed

The Sunday Times:

Gill was frank about United’s decision to summon Scholes and Mikael Silvestre from 3,500 miles away for last night’s game. "Let’s be honest," he said. "We’ve flown in players who weren’t due to come but I think that was a sensible business reaction to a situation."

SAF: "We have an important week coming up once we get back from America and we are working towards the European qualifier.

"Before today's match Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha, Wes Brown, Mikael Silvestre, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher hadn't played a game yet, and we are only 12 days away from the actual qualifier, so there is a bit of concern there.

"We will need to get to a decent standard for that type of match. I am more concerned about that.

"The Vodafone tournament is an important one for the simple fact that players need games.

"Then the Charity Shield is a very difficult one on terms of what team I pick. We are taking the long-term view and using our experience and not getting bogged down in what happens if.

"Whoever we have available at this moment in time we are working on them and working on their sharpness and match fitness.

"Through that, hopefully by the qualifier, we will have a nucleus that can get us through the to the group stage.We are getting closer."