• Premier League

Rooney shoulders United burden in busy run-in

Sir Alex Ferguson's plans to manage Wayne Rooney's workload during the remainder of the campaign will have to be put on the backburner after Manchester United revealed on Friday that Michael Owen will miss the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.

Rooney has been phenomenal for United over the past 12 months, scoring 29 goals in all competitions this season, including 13 in his last 12 matches. The former Everton striker carries the hopes of a nation at this summer's World Cup, and now he has the added burden of knowing his club are heavily reliant upon his services too.

Park Ji-Sung stated on Friday that he is eyeing a treble success at Old Trafford this season, which would mean Rooney potentially playing another 16 games before he even gets to the World Cup. How Ferguson goes about resting his prize asset could hold the key to United's title run-in.

Wolves v Manchester United
Manchester United have the chance to strike a psychological blow to Chelsea when they visit Wolves on Saturday, knowing victory would take them above Carlo Ancelotti's men in the title picture. Sir Alex Ferguson's side likely to encounter a very different Wolves line-up to the one they beat 3-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season, after Mick McCarthy earned an FA fine for resting all ten of his first-choice players in that encounter. Molineux will not be the easiest of places to go for the champions, who will be aware that Wolves have taken points off Liverpool and Tottenham on home turf this season, but United have lost just one of their last ten in the league and have Nani back from suspension.

Arsenal v Burnley
Mind games or pure honesty, Sir Alex Ferguson this week claimed Arsenal are "serious title contenders", which will not come as much of a surprise to Arsene Wenger, whose men are only three points off top spot. The Gunners have been lethal against the league's so-called lesser sides this season, dropping just nine points in games against teams from outside the top seven. Contrastingly, Burnley would appear to be the very definition of cannon fodder as they travel to Emirates Stadium having lost 13 of 14 away league games in the top flight. Their only point on the road came at Manchester City, and they have only scored in one of their last five away from Turf Moor.

West Ham v Bolton
With Burnley facing the footballing equivalent of Everest in North London, and Hull not playing until Sunday, either West Ham or Bolton have the opportunity to put clear daylight between themselves and the relegation zone at Upton Park. Currently two points above 18th-placed Hull, Bolton are in the greater danger but their spirits will be raised by last week's 1-0 win against Wolves. However, Owen Coyle will have to do without recent signing Stuart Holden, who has a fractured leg. West Ham's most recent outing saw them defeated 3-0 at Old Trafford, but that came on the back of consecutive victories against Birmingham and Hull.

SUNDAY:

Everton players were dejected after defeat to Sporting © Getty Images

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Everton v Hull
Everton will be beginning to believe they can snatch an unlikely Europa League place as they sit tenth in the Premier League table. After United won the Carling Cup, sixth place will be enough to qualify for Europe and, with Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa still in the FA Cup, seventh place may also lead down the path to Europa League football next season. The Toffees host Hull in the first of five hugely winnable matches, with Birmingham, Bolton, Wolves and West Ham also on the agenda. Defeat at Tottenham would have been avoided in their last outing but for a glaring miss from Landon Donovan, and they welcome a Hull side who have not won away all season.

MONDAY:

Wigan v Liverpool
"No more mistakes" is the rallying cry from Rafael Benitez as Liverpool have the opportunity to turn up the heat on their Champions League qualfying rivals on Monday night. With Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa all not playing over the weekend, Liverpool could leap into fourth place with victory at Wigan. Alex McLeish has been linked to Benitez's job over the past few days but the Reds are currently in good form under the Spaniard, losing only one of their last ten games. Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio provide defensive headaches for Benitez, but Sotirios Kyrgiakos returns from suspension. Wigan are on a dangerous slide after failing to win their last seven games, which has left them hovering one point above the relegation zone.

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