Rio Ferdinand has backed team-mate Antonio Valencia to have a big impact at Manchester United over the coming season.

The winger was signed from Wigan in the summer for £16million as Sir Alex Ferguson looked to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Following a subdued start to life at Old Trafford the Ecuador international has started to find his feet with the Premier League champions.

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Gabriel Obertan will make his Manchester United debut at Barnsley in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

The promising French winger has endured a frustrating time with injury since arriving at Old Trafford in the summer, having been sidelined by a spinal injury.

French winger Gabriel Obertan is set to make his debut for Manchester United in their Carling Cup clash at Barnsley and bookmakers don't know what to make of the highly-rated 20-year-old.

Obertan has been given time to get over a niggling back injury since arriving at Old Trafford in July but Sir Alex Ferguson insists: "We expect big things from him.

Winger Gabriel Obertan has made his debut for Manchester United - three months after joining the Premier League champions from Bordeaux.

The former France Under-21 star joined United on a four-year deal in July from the French champions in a £3m transfer but was sidelined by a spinal problem.

Gabriel Obertan has taken up gardening at Manchester United as he attempts to get over his injury hell which has blighted the start of his Old Trafford career.

Obertan, 20, was a surprise capture by Sir Alex Ferguson when he was gleaned from Bordeaux for around £3 million in July, with the talented winger himself admitting that he hadn't expected such lofty interest.

Corry Evans has travelled with the Manchester United squad to Russia for tonight's Champions League tie at CSKA Moscow.

Evans, a midfielder who can also play at the back, is the younger brother of United defender Jonny Evans, who also is in the squad.

Manchester United star Jonny Evans could be forced to finally go under the knife after his ongoing ankle injury flared up again forcing him out of tomorrow night’s final World Cup qualifying match in Prague.

Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer today hailed Northern Ireland teenager Joe Dudgeon.

The 18-year-old United defender is in line to make his debut for the Northern Ireland Under-21 side this evening in a UEFA qualifier against Iceland, and according to his coach at Old Trafford has a bright future ahead.

Ritchie de Laet has signed a new three-year deal at Manchester United after impressing in pre-season. The Belgian defender joined from Stoke in January and every time he got the chance to play for the first team he showed good pace and a healthy aggression.

'Alex Ferguson told me I'm very close to the first team,' he told The Sun.

Ritchie De Laet has been rewarded with a new contract at Manchester United that ties him to the club until 2012.

Ritchie De Laet

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Ritchie De Laet in action against Wolves this season.