Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Edwin comes through safely
UNITED'S goalkeeping crisis eased last night after Edwin Van der Sar made a successful return from a 10-week injury lay-off.
The 38-year-old Dutchman played the full 90 minutes for Ole Solskjaer's Reds reserves against Everton at Widnes.
Van der Sar has declared himself ready for a first-team return and has put himself in the frame to be available for selection for Sir Alex Ferguson against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford a week on Saturday in the Premier League after the international break.
"It felt good to be back. There was no reaction at all to the injury. The hand was fine," said Edwin after the 1-0 win.
"It was a case of getting my sharpness back a little bit and getting angles and getting corners and free-kicks with men around you. It was a perfect game to come back into.
"I think I will be ready for the Bolton game now. It is still ten days away but I feel good. I will train up to then and then hopefully be ready for the start of my season.
"It will be good to get back. I have done a lot of hard work with the physios and goalkeeping coaches. Now I want to see as much action as possible."
Fergie's first choice injured his finger ligaments in a penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich in Germany in United's pre-season warm-up. He underwent surgery to repair the damage.
In his absence there has been a growing concern over Ben Foster, who has endured a mixed 10-match period as Van der Sar's deputy.
An uncomfortable Community Shield against Chelsea at Wembley has been followed by criticism for not keeping out Andre Arshavin's shot for Arsenal in the league match in September. The 26-year-old England World Cup hopeful was also blamed for a couple of City's goals in the derby and was at fault for Sunderland's second scored by Kenwyne Jones last weekend.
Fabio Capello omitted Foster from his England squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers but United explained the keeper had suffered an injury at the weekend.
Nonetheless, Foster has failed to grasp his opportunity and with the Reds defence looking shaky into the bargain it was good news for Fergie at the Stobart Stadium last night.
It was hardly a major test for the two-times Champions League winner. Van der Sar hoofed a couple of clearances and caught one lofted high cross but the finger that required the summer surgery was never given a true test as Everton's young strikers failed to get a shot on target in the first-half.
It was pretty much the same in the second half with his defence protecting him well as United dominated.
Federico Macheda deservedly put the Reds ahead after 56 minutes as he forced his way into the box to fire home what proved to be the winner.
Van der Sar, though, had to be alert to a low cross that he tipped away from the danger area as Everton fought back.
But the keeper, who kept 30 clean sheets in all competitions last season, kept his first of this campaign on his comeback.
UNITED: Van der Sar, Fabio, Dudgeon, Evans, Gill, James, Norwood (Brandy 62), Macheda, King (Keane 89), Eikrem (Wootton 89), Brady.
