Thursday 24 March 2011

An epic April awaits

Sir Alex's men will now play Newcastle United at St James' Park on Tuesday 19 April.


The sides were initially set to clash three days earlier, but United's involvement in an FA Cup semi-final (against Manchester City at Wembley) that weekend forced the fixture's postponement. Now, however, the two clubs have agreed to face each other in midweek, between the Reds' games against Manchester City and Everton.

The rescheduled date brings United's April fixture tally to seven (it could later rise to eight), as the Reds compete for the Barclays Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. No other side in England remain involved in three competitions.

The month begins with four games against London clubs, as United travel to West Ham (Saturday 2 April) and Chelsea (Wednesday 6 April) before welcoming Fulham (Saturday 9 April) and Chelsea (Tuesday 12 April) to Old Trafford.

Then comes the massive FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, the first Manchester derby held outside of the city since 1926. The winner of that game will face either Bolton or Stoke City in the FA Cup final in May.

After the Manchester City fixture, attentions turn back to league matters for the rescheduled trip to St James' Park before Everton arrive at Old Trafford on Saturday 23 April.

There's also the possibility of a Champions League semi-final in either Milan (Inter) or Gelsenkirchen (Schalke), should United squeeze past Chelsea in the quarter-finals. Best not to get too far ahead of ourselves, though.

Regardless of whether or not United progress in the Champions League, there's no getting away from the fact that April is packed full of football.

Make no mistake: it's crunch time and Sir Alex will be hoping everybody is fit and available for what promises to be an action-packed month.

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