MICHAEL OWEN has been warned to expect the kind of abuse dished out by Manchester United fans to Carlos Tevez when he returns to Anfield.

Tevez was stunned by the stick he endured on his first outing in Manchester City’s colours back at his old club.

And Jamie Carragher is predicting the same sort of response from Liverpool fans when the former Kop idol heads
back to Anfield on October 25 in a United shirt.

Carragher said: “Our fans are usually brilliant with former players but he might get a cool reception.

“You can understand the fans’ point of view. He used to play for us and now he’s at the big rivals so of course there will be some reaction.

“That’s football and Michael will know that. Michael has a very strong character so stick doesn’t bother him.’’ Carragher is still good pals with Owen and backs his decision to sign up for Liverpool’s biggest rivals.

He said: “Michael’s got his career to think about. He wants to get his name back up there.

“He wants to play Champions League football and get into the World Cup squad.

“The move gives him that opportunity. It will have upset some fans but that’s football. He’s a mate of mine, so I suppose I have to wish him well – but only to a certain extent.’’

The Liverpool defender is astonished at the lack of respect Owen now commands from English football fans.

He said: “His achievements have been forgotten very quickly. This is a kid who went to a World Cup and set it alight.

“He scored one of the great World Cup goals, not against some Mickey Mouse nation either, against Argentina.

“What an impact at only 18. He’s won the European Footballer of the Year. How many British players can say that? If he never kicks a football again, he’s done more than most and I think he is due a bit more respect.’’

Carragher admits to being as shocked as anyone at Owen’s arrival at Old Trafford in the summer.

The free agent had been linked with moves to Hull and Stoke after leaving Newcastle before Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in to snap him up. Carragher said: “I was a bit surprised by his move to Manchester United. Not because I doubted his ability but it was so out of the blue.

“It happened so quickly. One minute you’re wondering where he will end up and the next he’s at Old Trafford.

“When I’ve played against him he’s been kept fairly quiet but, no disrespect to Newcastle, he wasn’t getting the service and it’ll be a harder experience than that when he is in the United line-up.’’

NOT content with trying to conquer the world as a striker, Wayne Rooney is already planning for future campaigns — as a football manager.

The Manchester United star, aged 23, has become one of the youngest England players to begin trying to qualify as a coach, having commenced studies for his Uefa B licence.

The course, an entry level qualification for professional players who hope to move into management, is usually taken by footballers in their thirties. But Rooney wants to gain his coaching badges as soon as possible, encouraged by Sir Alex Ferguson, his club’s manager.

Rooney, who played for England in their 1-0 defeat against Ukraine in Dnepropetrovsk yesterday, is also about to become a father with his wife, Coleen, due to give birth to their first child this month.

It appears that Rooney, who celebrates his 24th birthday on October 24, likes to do things precociously young. He is the youngest player to win 50 caps for England. He was also the youngest England international ever and the most junior player to score in the Premier League during his debut season of 2002-3, although both records were subsequently beaten.

Now the pattern of early achievement is set to continue when it comes to coaching. The B licence, which takes between nine and 12 months to complete, involves 120 hours of study and practical work and is the minimum qualification expected of a coach working in the professional game. Candidates study tactics, food and fitness, injury identification, sports psychology and player analysis and must organise and run several coaching sessions under the eye of an assessor.

Rooney is one of several Manchester United players trying for the licence, including Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Edwin Van Der Sar. Rooney will be tutored by members of the club’s coaching staff and will use Manchester United youth players for practice sessions.

Ferguson, who was also in his early twenties when he began his first coaching courses, is an advocate of starting young on the road to football management. Manchester United players he has already influenced to earn the B licence — and the next level of qualification, the A licence — include Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

Rooney has told friends he wants to stay in football after he finishes playing. Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, said: “Players should be targeted early for training.”

Silly news but still funny,

Wayne Rooney last night wound up pal Cristiano Ronaldo as he told his former Manchester United team-mate: “I don’t care if you miss the World Cup.”

While Rooney and England travelled to Ukraine last night assured of their places in South Africa, Ronaldo’s Portugal - as well as Lionel Messi’s Argentina - face the potential humiliation of World Cup exits by next Wednesday.

Ronaldo was blamed for Rooney’s dismissal at Germany 2006 and although he became great friends with his former United teammate he will not shed a tear if Ronaldo is missing from next summer’s invitation list.

Rooney, whose red card in the quarter final against Portugal was met with a sly wink by Ronaldo, said: “I’m not really bothered if Cristiano or Messi are there or not.

“We have to concentrate on ourselves and to be honest it would be nice to see Portugal not there - because the last two tournaments they’ve knocked us out.

“Obviously when we didn’t qualify for Euro 2008, we got a lot of stick, including from Cristiano.

“You have banter with your team-mates, but it’s important not to go too far because it’s an important issue, especially if it’s a World Cup you are missing.”

Even back to back wins over Hungary and Malta will not be enough for Portugal if other results go against them, while Argentina are precariously holding on to a play-off spot in South America.

Should Real Madrid’s world record £80million summer capture Ronaldo and Barcelona star Messi miss out, it would not only open up England’s path for glory under Fabio Capello but also improve Rooney’s chances of attaining the ultimate personal accolade.

Barcelona star Messi is odds-on to succeed Ronaldo as FIFA World Player of the Year in December but Rooney knows the star of next summer’s tournament is likely to be the winner of that prestigious trophy in 2010.

No Englishman has ever won the prize - although David Beckham and Frank Lampard have both made the top three - and Rooney added: “Of course the idea of being called the best in the world motivates you.

“I wouldn’t go on about it but of course that’s what you want to be. You want to be the best you can.

“I’ve always said that if personal honours as well as that, that’s great, but it’s important that you concentrate on the team first.

“But playing well in the World Cup could make the difference, definitely.

“If you look at 2006, Fabio Cannavaro won World Player of the Year. He obviously had a great tournament but personally I still think there were better players over the year. A tournament can obviously can make a massive difference if you do well in it.”

I think these players will make a big impact on whether we will buy any players next summer, and who we will buy.

In goal, it looks as though Van Der Sar will call it quites next summer. This will mean that, unless a new signing comes in, Kuszack or Foster will be number one next season. Personally, I think Kuszack is a much better keeper, but it looks as though Fergie wants Foster to be the main man very soon. A lot of people have said to give Foster time, that he is young, and will improve, but then again he is the same age as Pepe Reina, and no one sees him as a wonderkid. I've heard that Fergie's got very angry and frustrated with him after the Sunderland game. If the gaffer sees a lack of improvement from his peformances, I can see a new face coming in and taking the number one shirt.

In centre midfield, a lot of United fans have said that they want a DM come in, but with Flecher stepping up and Hargreaves returning, I can't, and don't want, to see that happen. But almost everyone wants to see us bring in a CM that can score goals, and thats why Lyjac's name is on the title of the thread. He's absolutely fantastic going forward, and is tipped to become one of the world's greatest players in a few years time. And then there's Anderson and Gibson, who can both score goals. The latter has said that he wants to continue his career with United and break into the starting line-up. I can't see us buying a Centre Midfielder any time soon.

On the wings, now, and it looks as though the debate on whether Nani is good enough for United is still going on. If he just works on his consistency and final ball, I can see him getting into double figures this season. Valencia has been givena lot of critisism lately, but come on, the man has only just joined us. He needs to get used to the fact that he will have more space when playing for a big club like United, and needs to work on his finishing. Great crosser, though. Tosic is looking good in the reserves, and the only thing I can see wrong with him is his lack of strenght. And then there's Obertan, who I'm a major fan of, and I can see him challenging for a starting XI place on the right wing this season.

Up top we are linked with many big names and I can't see us buying any of them in the summer. Yes maybe we could do with another striker, but we should also think about the younger players like King, Welbeck and Macheda. Diouf, according to SAF, will join us either in the summer or in January. He looks like a fantastic signing (with one of the best heading abilities I've seen) but I can't see him settling in England straight away. Im notbeing funny, but I think he will take about five years to get used to the way England is, and can see him, In a few years time, being one of these older world-class talents, like Kaka, Ribery, Berbatov, Villa etc. Lastly I am going to talk (or type) about Berbatov. I mean this, I've seen nothing, nothing wrong with what he's done on the pitch this season. I only want one thing from him: Goals. That's the one stat about him that makes you dissapoined. Some people say his assists make up for it, but a striker's job is to score goals, and he doesn't score enough.

If these players live up to their expectations, then I don't think we need anyone new in the summer. That is, if no-one leaves, of course...

Just want to know what does everyone think of our chances of beating the ities on saturday

CMON IRELAND!!!!!

Ill be having a few :guinesssm :guinesssm :guinesssm while watching it!