As the January transfer window began to reach towards its frivolous, panic-buying climax this week, the gap between the top and bottom of the league systems hit home, as fans desperately scrambled to raise £50,000, the average weekly wage of a Premier League footballer, to save 128 years of history at Conference outfit Darlington FC, who were minutes from extension.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has sparked a fitness scare ahead of the Red Devils' Premier League encounter with Bolton on Saturday by hinting he has been struck down by a stomach virus.

Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3

Sir Alex Ferguson's raw emotion at his club's first Champions League group-stage exit in six years led him to round on his former captain Roy Keane last night, as Manchester United's hopes of finally eclipsing Barcelona collapsed into the grim prospect of Thursday-night football in the Europa League.

Learning from the mistakes of the 2010 World Cup will go a long way to ensuring a fit, motivated and properly rested squad

Chris Smalling, one of the young Manchester United players who shone in Monday's 3-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur, summed up the vibrant mood at Old Trafford: "There is an excitement here because of the endless potential," he said. "We have nowhere near reached it and we are just looking how far we can go."

Police to have final say on whether tomorrow night's friendly with Dutch can go ahead

Dimitar Berbatov has been ruled out of the second match of Manchester United's US Tour.

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans believes he would not deserve to be at the club if he was not prepared to accept fresh competition for his place in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans.

Javier Hernandez is expected to be rewarded for his extraordinary first season at Manchester United with a new deal.

Defender Chris Smalling has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United.

England are optimistic that Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Arsenal's Henri Lansbury will have recovered from a throat infection and an ankle injury respectively to play against the Czech Republic in the decisive final group match at the European Under-21 Championship tonight.

England left themselves needing to win their final Group B game to avoid crashing out of the European Under-21 Championship but defender Phil Jones said: "We would have taken that before the tournament."