Manchester United related news, notes, and links

Manchester United are currently on a two-week international break, however, that hasn't stopped the news from pouring in. Here is a round-up of the recent happenings with the club:

* Sir Alex Ferguson believes that international friendlies are a waste of time. I tend to agree with the general sentiments of the Gaffer. {The Guardian}

* The United boss also feels that playing the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley is a poor idea. With the number of sporting of events in London at that time, and with the number of supporters headed to London from England's north-west, Fergie felt Anfield and Villa Park would have been better venues. {The Guardian}

* The Gaffer feels that injuries will make the treble difficult to achieve. This wasn't nearly as much of an issue in 1999. {Manchester Evening News}

* Fergie also says that United's loanees will return to the club's first team next season. He specifically mentions the success of Tom Cleverley at Wigan Athletic, Danny Welbeck at Sunderland, Mame Biram Diouf at Blackburn Rovers. {ESPN Soccernet}

* Speaking of Welbeck, he has been called into the England squad for the first time for their friendly tonight versus Ghana. He also scored for England's U-21s versus Denmark this past Thursday. {M.E.N}

* More discussion on who might be on United's shopping list this summer. This piece claims that Inter's Wesley Sneijder is the club's #1 target. {M.E.N}

* A look into the United up and coming generation. The youngsters are set to clash with Chelsea's youth side in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. {M.E.N) 

* Nemanja Vidic is set to return at Upton Park versus West Ham on Saturday. However, he will need to get through tonight's match for Serbia in tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier. {M.E.N}

* Sadly, Owen Hargreaves has suffered another injury setback. It's quite possible that we've seen the last of Hargo in a United shirt. {ESPN Soccernet}

* One player that has made a successful return from injury is Antonio Valencia. Fergie is delighted by it as well. {ESPN Soccernet}

* United may be the most popular club in the world, but they may also be the most hated in the U.K. {ESPN Soccernet}

* Neymar dazzled at the Emirates this past week for Brazil's national team versus Scotland and it appears that the Santos striker is headed to England in the summer. Will it be to Old Trafford? {ESPN Soccernet}

* Jim White, of The Telegraph, believes that Ryan Giggs would make a fitting Great Britain captain for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

* Bryan Robson appears to be in great spirits in his battle versus throat cancer. {M.E.N.}

* United will once again travel to the United States for their pre-season summer tour. They will visit Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New Jersey, and Washington DC. The tour finale will be a clash versus FC Barcelona. {The Busby Babe}

* Manchester City's Micah Richards plans to get his sleep in an oxygen chamber in order to be healthy for the FA Cup semi-final tie versus United. The defender injured his hamstring in the England U-21 victory over Denmark. {The Guardian}

* Will Chicharito be exhausted after the international break? {M.E.N} 

* Well hello there. Again from the awesome Dirty Tackle blog... Dimitar Berbatov is.... The Continental. Ha-HA!