Manchester United’s unbeaten record in the EPL continued into the New Year with a brace of narrow victories over mid-table opposition taking their run without defeat to twenty matches.

But one of the EPL’s most talked-about goalless runs came to an end when Wayne Rooney headed the Red Devils’ opening goal at West Bromwich Albion last Saturday, only to suffer another ankle injury late in the game, which kept him out of United’s 2-1 midweek win over Stoke.

Meanwhile, boss Alex Ferguson, who recently overtook the legendary Sir Matt Busby as the club’s longest-serving manager, has said United will not be delving into the transfer market this January, despite the club being linked with almost every quality player up for grabs.

 

United’s management team were forced to admit they were “lucky” to come away from West Brom with all three points last weekend.

Ferguson said he thought West Brom should have had a first-half penalty when the score was still 1-1. Veteran right-back Gary Neville upended Graham Dorrans as the Scot was about to shoot from close range and Ferguson admitted: “Gary was lucky to stay on. It was a penalty.” And Ferguson’s assistant Mike Phelan also used the L-word in his post-match interview with the BBC’s Match of the Day programme.

Rooney turned over on his ankle late in the match but limped on until the final whistle, which Ferguson claimed “showed courage.”

The former Everton striker is reportedly “desperate to be unleashed” against Liverpool in this Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie. And Phelan insisted that Rooney is not “far away” from fitness after the Stoke match gave United “an opportunity to leave him out because of the knock.”

Ferguson last week ruled out January transfer window purchases, telling journalists at a New Year’s Eve press conference that there would “definitely not” be any new arrivals, echoing his and the club’s transfer policy of January 2010.

However, young striker Federico Macheda is expected to return to his native Italy on loan until the end of the season, in order to add to his first-team experience. Both Roma and Lazio have expressed an interest in the 19-year-old.

Meanwhile, left-back Patrice Evra has been distanced from speculation linking him to a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old Frenchman’s agent Federico Pastorello said: “There is definitely no truth in a move away from United. Patrice is focused on United.”