• Premier League

Ferguson fumes at FA over Young disclosure

Sir Alex Ferguson is not happy everyone knows about Ashley Young's injury © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Fergie will pair RvP and Rooney when both are fit
  
• News: Fergie sees positives in Rooney injury
  
• News: Robson laughs off Rooney gaffe
  

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has raged at the Football Association for revealing that Ashley Young is suffering from a knee injury.

Young was left out of Roy Hodgson's Three Lions squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine when it was announced earlier in the week, with the FA subsequently revealing the reason behind the omission to the press.

The injury is not serious and Ferguson does not expect the winger to be sidelined for long, but is nevertheless incensed that the FA have tipped off United's forthcoming opponents about the fitness of a member of their squad.

"It was nice of the FA to let everyone know that Ashley Young is injured," Ferguson said. "There is no point giving them any information now.

"He's out, he got a knee injury last week, although it's not serious. Obviously he will be ready for a couple of weeks' time.

"We have a game on Sunday [against Southampton]. Why should they alert our opponents who's fit? It won't happen again."

Elsewhere, Ferguson has confirmed that Darren Fletcher could be included in the club's Champions League squad. The Scotland international has missed the last 10 months due to a chronic bowel condition, but has slowly played his way back towards a first-team return in recent weeks.

"We haven't finalised that yet but there are a few players we don't need to register because of the time they spent with us as an academy player, so we've got that advantage," Ferguson said.

"There are 25 players that have to be registered and he [Fletcher] comes into that quite easily without leaving others out. The first thing to mention is he has put weight back on now. He's back to his normal weight from two-three years ago.

"He's training well every day. He went up to Scotland the last trip and I think he's going up again, just as an experience thing, just to be there.

"He played the other night and did really well but I don't know where he's at, to be honest with you.

"With the condition he has, and has to deal with, it's wait and see.

"If he keeps doing as well as he's doing then he will come into contention because he's a fantastic player."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.