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Electronic Telegraph

Thursday
31 July 1997
Issue 797


Sheringham eclipsed by latest United discovery
By Henry Winter


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   Manchester Utd 1 Inter Milan 1
   
   TEDDY Sheringham made his Old Trafford bow last night but, as is often
   the way with this footballing academy, the headlines were taken by yet
   another of Alex Ferguson's fledglings.
   
   Michael Clegg, born in Ashton-under-Lyne 20 years ago, scored a
   deserved equaliser to settle this interesting, if hardly revealing,
   friendly against busy Italian opposition.
   
   Clegg impressed, as did Sheringham with his unhurried use of
   possession which United hope will make up for the retirement of Eric
   Cantona. But of great concern to Ferguson, and the majority of the
   48,579 present, will be the injuries suffered by Gary Neville, who
   limped off, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian departed on a
   stretcher, forcing United to bring on a goalkeeper, Kevin Pilkington,
   in attack.
   
   Sheringham was warmly received and, quietly but sure-footedly, was
   soon into his stride, dropping deep and sweeping passes wide on
   occasions for the 45 minutes he played.
   
   Such creativity is an art Paul Scholes also enjoys, although there was
   little sign of the England internationals getting in each other's way.
   Such a problem may arise when David Beckham, who started on the bench,
   is added to the playmaking equation.
   
   As this fourth friendly of the Paul Ince transfer deal unfolded,
   United used the ball attractively. Ryan Giggs and Karel Poborsky moved
   in from their flanks with pace and intelligence. Lacking a
   30-goal-a-season forward, Ferguson has again adopted the approach of
   collective responsibility around goal. So it was little surprise to
   see Giggs ghosting into the box after 11 minutes, although the
   Welshman's headed finish wasted Denis Irwin's excellent right-wing
   cross.
   
   Irwin and Philip Neville, on the left, were pushing forward with some
   eagerness. This, though, meant that United's central-defence of Gary
   Neville and Ronny Johnsen was in danger of being exposed to the clever
   breaks that Inter favour.
   
   Just before the break United became distinctly vulnerable when Gary
   Neville sustained a dead leg. Suddenly shorn of speed and full
   mobility, the England defender was unable to intervene as Diego
   Simeone pressurised Johnsen in a chase for Alvaro Recoba's ball.
   Simeone kept his balance before sliding the ball past Peter Schmeichel
   for Maurizio Ganz to score.
   
   Neville's replacement, Clegg, is more of a right-back but slotted into
   central defence confidently enough. Although not the tallest of
   footballers, only 5ft 8in, Clegg possesses a strong jump while his
   tackling marks him out as another fine young United prospect. He even
   found time to steal forward, heading in Poborsky's corner to add some
   justice to the scoreline.
   
   Ten minutes from time, Old Trafford witnessed the sad sight of
   Solskjaer being carried from the field. Pilkington arrived to throw
   his weight around in attack and this was greeted with approval but, by
   then, most United minds were reflecting on injury problems.
   
   Manchester Utd: Schmeichel; Irwin, G Neville (Clegg 44), Johnsen (Poli
   60), P Neville; Poborsky, Scholes (Beckham 60), Butt (McClair 45),
   Giggs; Sheringham (Cruyff 45); Cole (Solskjaer 60, Pilkington 84).
   
   Inter Milan: Pagliuca; Galante (Paganin 45), Bergamo (Fresi 45), West
   (Tarantino 45); Zanetti, Berti, Simeone (Sartor 45), Winter, Cauet
   (Mezzano 71), Zamorano (Ganz 23), Recoba. Subs: Nuzzo (g), Ze'Elias.
   
   Referee: M Riley (Leeds).


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