themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Napoli willing to strike deal with Manchester United for Koulibaly and more transfer rumours

Manchester United are considering a move for Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly but not until the summer , according to reports .
Despite spending big money on Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to improve the defence last summer , United have continued to concede preventable goals this season which has often led to dropped points .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's lack of options at the back was also prevalent in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Man City , when Maguire missed out through injury and his replacement Phil Jones suffered another nightmare performance .
United 's weakness at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's no surprise that they are being linked with spending more money on a new centre-back .
Napoli 's Koulibaly has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for years .
The imposing centre-back is regarded as one of the finest defenders in the world but Napoli 's massive asking price has so far put off interested clubs .
Yet according to Corriere dello Sport , via CalcioMercato , United are 'thinking about signing Koulibaly in the summer . '
It 's claimed that United are 'ready to make an important investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be willing as the deal would allow them to 'reinvest the funds earned from the sale in the transfer market as well , letting them overhaul the aging squad . '
Another centre-back to be linked with a move to United is Barcelona 's Samuel Umtiti .
Spanish outlet El Desmarque claim that United have joined the race to sign Umtiti as the Frenchman is currently out of favour under Ernesto Valverde .
The 26-year-old was once considered one of the world ’ s most promising defenders after impressing for Lyon but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time at Barcelona has hampered his progress .
Finally , Juventus midfielder Emre Can has 'ruled out a move ' to United , according to reports .
A new midfielder is high on Solskjaer 's shopping list following injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay , with Can one of the many names mentioned as he 's out of favour in Turin .
However , the Daily Mirror reports that a move to United is 'off the table ' as the 25-year-old feels 'it would be tough to join United , given his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MEN Sport understands he has never been a priority target .

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Manchester United are considering a move for Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly but not until the summer, according to reports.
Despite spending big money on Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to improve the defence last summer, United have continued to concede preventable goals this season which has often led to dropped points.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's lack of options at the back was also prevalent in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Man City, when Maguire missed out through injury and his replacement Phil Jones suffered another nightmare performance.
United's weakness at the back has been exposed and it's no surprise that they are being linked with spending more money on a new centre-back.
Napoli's Koulibaly has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for years. The imposing centre-back is regarded as one of the finest defenders in the world but Napoli's massive asking price has so far put off interested clubs.
Yet according to Corriere dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, United are 'thinking about signing Koulibaly in the summer.'
It's claimed that United are 'ready to make an important investment in the 28-year-old' and that Napoli would be willing as the deal would allow them to 'reinvest the funds earned from the sale in the transfer market as well, letting them overhaul the aging squad.'
Another centre-back to be linked with a move to United is Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti.
Spanish outlet El Desmarque claim that United have joined the race to sign Umtiti as the Frenchman is currently out of favour under Ernesto Valverde.
The 26-year-old was once considered one of the world’s most promising defenders after impressing for Lyon but a series of knee problems during his time at Barcelona has hampered his progress.
Finally, Juventus midfielder Emre Can has 'ruled out a move' to United, according to reports.
A new midfielder is high on Solskjaer's shopping list following injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, with Can one of the many names mentioned as he's out of favour in Turin.
However, the Daily Mirror reports that a move to United is 'off the table' as the 25-year-old feels 'it would be tough to join United, given his connections with former club Liverpool.' MEN Sport understands he has never been a priority target.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Awkward moment on The Masked Singer as Justin Hawkins  unmasked after Rita Ora was hoping for Anthon

Awkward moment on The Masked Singer as Justin Hawkins  unmasked after Rita Ora was hoping for Anthony Joshua

Rita Ora was blushing after The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins became the latest celeb to be revealed on The Masked Singer .
Justin , whose hits with the rock band include I Believe In A Thing Called Love , was unmasked as the chameleon on the singing contest which sees stars perform in disguise in an elaborate costume .
Viewers had noticed a frisson between the chameleon and celeb detective Rita , who was tasked with guessing who he was .
Asked who she was hoping it was , singer Rita said boxer Anthony Joshua after the detectives clocked that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whoever it is it 's lovely to meet you .
I 'd love it to be Anthony Joshua , '' she said .
`` Theres Rita thinking it 's AJ '' tweeted one viewer .
`` Rita ’ s face when this mask comes off and it ’ s Justin Hawkins when she ’ s expecting Anthony Joshua will be something to behold , '' said another .
`` Imagine Rita Ora falling head over heels for this Chameleon character ( lol ) and then going on to unmask them as Justin Hawkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When she saw the chameleon 's true identity she told him `` I 'm so happy it 's you '' and told him that she was `` blushing . ''
Justin , who had to sing again without his mask on , then changed the words to Cyndi Lauper 's True Colours to `` call me up Rita you know I 'll be there . ''
Many viewers were stunned by the reveal .
`` Holy that 's not who I was expecting AT ALL , '' said one .
`` Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said another .
`` Woah ok , I was sure fooled there !
! ''
said another .
And another wrote : `` Damn !
I did not see that coming !
Justin Hawkins have such a stunning voice !
So used to hearing him sing so high ! ''
And fans are 'shipping ' the idea of them as a couple .
`` The outfits at Justin Hawkins and Rita Ora 's wedding are going to be gooood .
Queen Bee officiating , '' said one .
`` Rita Ora and Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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Rita Ora was blushing after The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins became the latest celeb to be revealed on The Masked Singer.
Justin, whose hits with the rock band include I Believe In A Thing Called Love, was unmasked as the chameleon on the singing contest which sees stars perform in disguise in an elaborate costume.
Viewers had noticed a frisson between the chameleon and celeb detective Rita, who was tasked with guessing who he was.
Asked who she was hoping it was, singer Rita said boxer Anthony Joshua after the detectives clocked that he had an athletic frame.
(Image: ITV)
"Whoever it is it's lovely to meet you. I'd love it to be Anthony Joshua," she said.
"Theres Rita thinking it's AJ" tweeted one viewer.
"Rita’s face when this mask comes off and it’s Justin Hawkins when she’s expecting Anthony Joshua will be something to behold," said another.
"Imagine Rita Ora falling head over heels for this Chameleon character (lol) and then going on to unmask them as Justin Hawkins from The Darkness?" commented another.
(Image: ITV)
When she saw the chameleon's true identity she told him "I'm so happy it's you" and told him that she was "blushing."
Justin, who had to sing again without his mask on, then changed the words to Cyndi Lauper's True Colours to "call me up Rita you know I'll be there."
Many viewers were stunned by the reveal.
"Holy that's not who I was expecting AT ALL," said one.
"Well, that was a surprise!" said another.
(Image: ITV)
"Woah ok, I was sure fooled there!!" said another.
And another wrote: "Damn! I did not see that coming! Justin Hawkins have such a stunning voice! So used to hearing him sing so high!"
And fans are 'shipping' the idea of them as a couple.
"The outfits at Justin Hawkins and Rita Ora's wedding are going to be gooood. Queen Bee officiating," said one.
"Rita Ora and Justin Hawkins I ship," said another.
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themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Train conductor catches fare-dodger using the most genius logic

A fare dodger who reportedly told a train conductor porkies to get out of paying for his full journey was caught out by his own SANDWICH .
The brilliant exchange on Friday was documented in a hilarious Twitter thread by Spanish comedian Ignacia Lopez .
He says the passenger got on the Edinburgh-bound train at Wigan and immediately fell asleep .
Around an hour or so later he was gently woken by the conductor and asked for his ticket .
The man explained he needed to buy one , and when questioned where he boarded replied 'Carlisle ' - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits down next to him and pauses .
'Are you sure you didn ’ t get on sooner ? '
, '' Mr Lopez tweeted .
`` The guy is wondering if the guard saw him earlier .
He decides to go for it .
Poker face time .
`` I feel like I ’ m watching Pacino & De Niro face off in ‘ Heat ’ . ''
The conductor then picked up a receipt from the table in front of the man and points out the train had stopped in Carlisle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was from an hour before .
But the passenger denies it is his , even fobbing off the fact he has crumbs all over him .
`` I had a sandwich in Carlisle , '' he replies .
He hands the conductor his card to pay for his £27 ticket .
What he did n't twig was it was the same card he used to pay for the sandwich .
`` This is the same card used to buy the sandwich , sir .
`` The last four digits are printed on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I checked the camera footage we ’ d see you getting on earlier and buying that sandwich . ''
Without a leg to stand on , the man coughs to it all and begrudgingly forks out the full £71 fare .
Mr Lopez ended his tale saying : `` The guy didn ’ t sleep again after that .
`` He spent the rest of the journey staring down at that receipt .
I mean , the real crime here is the price of rail travel but , wow .
What a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device .
You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here .
And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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A fare dodger who reportedly told a train conductor porkies to get out of paying for his full journey was caught out by his own SANDWICH.
The brilliant exchange on Friday was documented in a hilarious Twitter thread by Spanish comedian Ignacia Lopez.
He says the passenger got on the Edinburgh-bound train at Wigan and immediately fell asleep.
Around an hour or so later he was gently woken by the conductor and asked for his ticket.
The man explained he needed to buy one, and when questioned where he boarded replied 'Carlisle' - the last stop.
"The train guard sits down next to him and pauses. 'Are you sure you didn’t get on sooner?'," Mr Lopez tweeted.
(Image: Virgin Trains)
"The guy is wondering if the guard saw him earlier. He decides to go for it. Poker face time.
"I feel like I’m watching Pacino & De Niro face off in ‘Heat’."
The conductor then picked up a receipt from the table in front of the man and points out the train had stopped in Carlisle ten minutes earlier, but the receipt was from an hour before.
But the passenger denies it is his, even fobbing off the fact he has crumbs all over him.
"I had a sandwich in Carlisle," he replies.
He hands the conductor his card to pay for his £27 ticket. What he didn't twig was it was the same card he used to pay for the sandwich.
"This is the same card used to buy the sandwich, sir.
"The last four digits are printed on the receipt... and I’m sure if I checked the camera footage we’d see you getting on earlier and buying that sandwich."
Want more news from Wigan, Atherton or Leigh? Here's where you can find it. We now have a dedicated Facebook page bringing you all the latest news, events and community news in and around Wigan. To keep up to date with all that is happening in Wigan, Atherton and Leigh - and to join in the discussion - follow the page here. Reporter Tom George covers all things Wigan for the Manchester Evening News, you can follow him on Twitter here.
Without a leg to stand on, the man coughs to it all and begrudgingly forks out the full £71 fare.
Mr Lopez ended his tale saying: "The guy didn’t sleep again after that.
"He spent the rest of the journey staring down at that receipt. I mean, the real crime here is the price of rail travel but, wow. What a trip."
The fantastic thread in full
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--The criminals locked up in Greater Manchester since the start of January

The first half of January will soon be here and despite it being a quiet start to the New Year for some , the region 's courts were very much still busy handing out prison sentences .
People have been locked up for all manner of criminal offences and with M.E.N .
reporters were there to cover the most serious .
There was the case of a child that asked a gunman who broke into his family home 'are you going to kill my daddy ? '
before his father was kidnapped , attacked and 'tortured ' .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a drunken four-hour rampage on a holiday jet after she asked male passengers to join her in the 'mile high club ' .
There was also the member of a notorious gang of schoolboy robbers locked up for stabbing a 13-year-old boy in Piccadilly Gardens .
The biggest case , however , was that of Reynhard Sinaga - the Manchester student who raped up to 200 men who were out clubbing in the city .
After four trials spanning the course of 18 months , Sinaga has now been exposed as Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here is a run-down of the criminals jailed since the start of the month : 'What do you mean no ?
You 're in my house ' ... teen criminal 's sickening words to girl , 14 , before launching himself at her in horrific rape A teenager has been locked up for raping a girl of 14 at a house party while his family was away .
The youth was 15 when he attacked the girl at his home in Salford in March 2018 .
A jury unanimously convicted him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a judge handed the youth , now 17 , a two-year detention and training order .
The court heard the girl had gone out with a school friend , both 14 at the time , and text messages between the pair indicated they wanted to spend the night at a 'free house ' where there were no parents .
Messages on the victim 's phone also suggested the pair were planning on getting some ecstasy but the girl told the trial they never obtained any drugs .
She said she believed her drink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one party they went to and afterwards the friends were looking for another party to go to .
'That 's the guy who touched me up ' ... flasher who stalked 14-year-old girl is jailed after being caught by her parents A flasher who molested a 14-year-old girl in a terrifying street attack whilst he was on bail for exposing himself to two women joggers has been jailed for a year .
Sam Orchard , 22 , stalked the teenager for several minutes before creeping up behind her and grabbing her .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a nearby pub in tears where she was seen pointing at Orchard who was loitering outside saying : `` That ’ s that guy down there who touched me up ” .
He was arrested after police arrived at the scene , in Middleton , to find an injured Orchard on the ground with the victim 's parents stood around him .
It is not known how he came by his injuries .
Police who investigated the attack , at around 11am on October 25 , 2018 , discovered Orchard of Thurnby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he flashed at two women been jogging in the city 's Bradgate Park the previous May .
At Minshull Street Crown Court , Manchester , the father-to-be admitted sexual assault and indecent exposure and was also ordered to abide by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign the Sex Offender Register for ten years .
'Are you going to kill my daddy ? '
terrified child asked gunman before gang kidnapped his father A child asked a gunman who broke into his family home 'are you going to kill my daddy ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked and 'tortured ' .
The dad-of-two was only released more than 25 hours later after a ransom of £34,000 was paid .
Paris Bostock , 26 ; Blake Evers , 24 ; and Darren Berkeley , 43 , and have been jailed for their roles in the shocking incident .
Tammy O'Sullivan , 41 , will be sentenced later this week and Elliott Cummings , 29 , will be sentenced later this month .
It is thought the victim , who worked in car sales , was targeted because it was believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man was with his partner and two sons at their home in Heaton Moor , Stockport , when four masked men - one armed with a gun - smashed in through a window .
Prosecutors said Berkeley - 'by far the oldest ' of the gang , a father-of-four who is Bostock 's stepfather - was involved in negotiations for the payment of the ransom and the man 's release .
He denied this , with his lawyers claiming during his earlier trial that he was in fact a drug dealer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily involve the use of several mobile telephones which are frequently changed ' .
However Berkeley , of no fixed address , was convicted , with the judge saying the verdict proved he 'was a blackmailer , and moreover , the court is entitled to conclude , a blackmailer who played a significant role ' .
Evers and Cummings were said to have been involved in the kidnapping and his detention .
All four other defendants other than Berkely pleaded guilty .
Bostock , of Chassen Road , Urmston ; Evers , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cummings , of Mull Avenue , Longsight , admitted false imprisonment .
Evers was jailed for a total of 19 years at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday , which also included sentences from his involvement in a second kidnapping in Fallowfield a month later .
Berkeley was jailed for 12 years and Bostock was handed a nine year jail term .
Woman who tried to get strangers to 'join the mile high club ' in drunken rampage on Etihad jet A woman has been jailed over a drunken four-hour rampage on a holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join her in the `` mile high club '' as the plane cruised at 30,000 feet .
Demi Burton , 20 , had already shocked two men by making crude comments about them having mid air sex during an eight hour flight whilst she was intoxicated on red wine .
But when she was refused any more alcohol , Burton , from Carrington , Trafford , shouted : `` You may as well just land the plane now then ! '
’ before angrily raising her fists at cabin crew and going berserk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester tried to calm Burton down only for her to headbutt , maul and and kick out at them during a violent struggle .
It took six crew members and passengers to restrain her and she was arrested when the plane touched down after a nightmare 4,500 mile journey .
A consultant anaesthetist travelling on the flight who was bitten on the elbow and headbutted as he helped restrain Burton claimed it was worse than working in A & E .
At Minshull Street Crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for six months after she admitted being drunk on an aircraft and five charges of assault .
The incident began on May 9 shortly after flight EY21 had taken off from the United Arab Emirates .
'The Spice tram to Chadderton ' : How dealers used Metrolink to peddle drugs and misery Two drug dealers who used Metrolink to peddle Spice across the region have been jailed .
Martin Alan Davies , 29 , and Adam Miller , 33 , took advantage of Manchester city centre 's homeless population to make thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the patch after a series of successful prosecutions under Operation Gigg , the police unit set up to tackle Spice dealing , took out several prominent players .
Davies , known by his first name to many drug users in the city centre , began selling Spice at South Chadderton tram stop around 2017 .
The Manchester Evening News understands groups of as many as fifteen or twenty homeless drug users would then get the tram from the city centre to South Chadderton to pick up Spice .
Davies and Miller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were charged and later pleaded guilty to offences including Possession of Spice With Intent to Supply , Possession of Cannabis and Possession of a Bladed Article .
They were sentenced to 32 months and 39 months in prison respectively .
'Lost Boys ' gang member , 13 , stabbed child in the back in Piccadilly Gardens over £5 A member of a notorious gang of schoolboy robbers has been locked up for stabbing a 13-year-old boy in Piccadilly Gardens .
The boy , who can not be named for legal reasons , knifed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to hand over just £5 .
Manchester Crown Court heard the robber demanded the cash because he wanted to join a group of friends going to the cinema .
It was part of a string of knife-point robberies the boy carried out as part of the Urbis Group , a gang of boys mostly aged 13 and 14-years-old who took over Manchester city centre during the summer of 2018 .
In a special report published last year , the Manchester Evening News described the gang as 'The Lost Boys of Manchester ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it emerged the 16-strong group met after being excluded from school and into the Pupil Referral Unit ( PRU ) system .
Many were required to attend only a few hours of school a week , and instead began meeting up in the city centre to carry out increasingly violent robberies .
The gang was finally nailed when Greater Manchester Police detectives in Operation Valiant - the anti-robbery unit - launched a painstaking investigation that resulted in more than 100 charges .
Their work tackling the gang , and others operating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the main players in the 'Lost Boys ' group was sentenced to a year in youth custody .
Now aged 14 , he was just 13-years-old when he stabbed another young boy in a shocking and unprovoked attack in November 2018 .
The boy was sentenced to a 12-month Detention and Training Order .
Forest Bank lag who 'd had a 'difficult day ' headbutted prison officer and left him with a broken nose A prison officer left covered in blood after an angry lag headbutted him had a 'premonition ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a court heard .
Geoffrey Hampshire , 46 , assaulted the officer at Forest Bank prison in Salford after having a 'difficult day ' .
The officer was left with a broken nose and suffered 'copious blood loss ' .
The attack led him to undergo a 'dramatic loss of confidence ' .
Sentencing Hampshire to an additional six months in jail after he pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding , Judge Alan Conrad QC told him : `` You headbutted a prison officer who had done nothing to warrant what you did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing his job in difficult circumstances . ''
Pervert woman befriended 'vulnerable ' girl , 13 , before sexually abusing her for weeks ... the teenager ended up trying to take her own life A woman who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl has now been jailed .
Martine Brayshaw was 22 when she started to befriend the `` vulnerable '' teenager , who had a torrid home life .
What began as a friendship soon turned into sexual abuse over a two month period , though , and was only uncovered when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was confronted by her mother .
Minshull Street Crown Court heard the girl 's relationship with Brayshaw `` contributed '' to the youngster trying to take her own life .
After being treated in hospital , she told police of the abuse .
Later , Brayshaw of Coldhurst , Oldham , turned up at the girl 's home , threw a burning rag at the property and screamed abuse at the girl and her mother , threatening to ‘ get people round ’ .
Brayshaw , now 24 , was jailed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven charges of sexual activity with a child and two offences of witness intimidation .
Cocaine-fuelled thug stabbed love rival three times in the head with machete after being sent pictures of him kissing his ex A thug who repeatedly stabbed a love rival in the head with a machete has been jailed for ten years .
Liam Morgan , 31 , flew into a rage after he was sent pictures via Facebook Messenger of his ex-girlfriend kissing the victim , Manchester Crown Court heard .
Fuelled by cocaine and booze , Morgan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Harpurhey armed with a 'machete-type ' weapon , the court was told .
When she answered the door , Morgan pushed her out of the way and immediately went to attack her new partner .
He launched himself at the victim , slashing him on the wrist , and three times around the head when he attempted to flee into the kitchen , the court heard .
Morgan 's three children with his ex-partner were asleep in the home at the time .
Morgan was arrested at the scene last August and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He pleaded guilty and Judge Nicholls sentenced Morgan to ten years in prison .
Man who smashed pint glass into the side of pub customer 's face jailed for five years A man who smashed a pint glass into the side of man 's face has been jailed for five years .
The victim was with a group of friends in The Welcome Inn , on Bury Old Road , Whitefield , when he asked attacker Alexander Sinclair , 28 , to move and an argument started .
Sinclair , of Langley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punch the victim with his left hand and then smashed a pint glass into the side of his face with his right hand .
The victim suffered from head and face injuries during the incident in in December 2018 , which required hospital treatment .
Sinclair was later arrested and taken into police custody for interview .
He denied the offence , but following a trial a jury found him guilty of section 18 assault .
During a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Sinclair was sentenced to five years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men in his city centre flat A Manchester student who raped up to 200 men who were out clubbing in the city has been exposed as Britain ’ s worst rapist and jailed for life .
Reynhard Sinaga lured drunk men back to his city centre apartment at Montana House , Princess Street , before poisoning them with GHB , raping them and filming them while they were ‘ comatose ’ , a series of Manchester Crown Court trials has heard .
The 36-year-old - described as a ‘ psychopath ’ by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 men , aged 17 to 36 , over two-and-a-half years .
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting an additional four victims .
The extraordinary case can only be reported now - after four trials , spanning the course of 18 months , concluded with guilty verdicts at Manchester Crown Court .
Detectives believe the true number of victims is at least 195 , based on the hundreds of hours of video footage the Indonesia national took of the attacks .
Dozens of men have yet to be identified and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the memory-wiping effect of the drug Sinaga used to knock out his victims .
It makes the PhD student , who studied at Manchester and Leeds universities , the most prolific rapist in British judicial history - worse even than the notorious ‘ black cab rapist ’ John Worboys .

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Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox
The first half of January will soon be here and despite it being a quiet start to the New Year for some, the region's courts were very much still busy handing out prison sentences.
People have been locked up for all manner of criminal offences and with M.E.N. reporters were there to cover the most serious.
There was the case of a child that asked a gunman who broke into his family home 'are you going to kill my daddy?' before his father was kidnapped, attacked and 'tortured'.
Then there was the woman that has been jailed over a drunken four-hour rampage on a holiday jet after she asked male passengers to join her in the 'mile high club'.
There was also the member of a notorious gang of schoolboy robbers locked up for stabbing a 13-year-old boy in Piccadilly Gardens.
The biggest case, however, was that of Reynhard Sinaga - the Manchester student who raped up to 200 men who were out clubbing in the city.
After four trials spanning the course of 18 months, Sinaga has now been exposed as Britain's worst rapist and jailed for life.
Here is a run-down of the criminals jailed since the start of the month:
'What do you mean no? You're in my house'...teen criminal's sickening words to girl, 14, before launching himself at her in horrific rape
A teenager has been locked up for raping a girl of 14 at a house party while his family was away.
The youth was 15 when he attacked the girl at his home in Salford in March 2018.
A jury unanimously convicted him of rape in November following a trial and a judge handed the youth, now 17, a two-year detention and training order.
The court heard the girl had gone out with a school friend, both 14 at the time, and text messages between the pair indicated they wanted to spend the night at a 'free house' where there were no parents.
Messages on the victim's phone also suggested the pair were planning on getting some ecstasy but the girl told the trial they never obtained any drugs.
She said she believed her drink had been spiked towards the end of one party they went to and afterwards the friends were looking for another party to go to.
'That's the guy who touched me up'... flasher who stalked 14-year-old girl is jailed after being caught by her parents
A flasher who molested a 14-year-old girl in a terrifying street attack whilst he was on bail for exposing himself to two women joggers has been jailed for a year.
Sam Orchard, 22, stalked the teenager for several minutes before creeping up behind her and grabbing her.
The terrified girl alerted her mother then fled to a nearby pub in tears where she was seen pointing at Orchard who was loitering outside saying: ''That’s that guy down there who touched me up”.
He was arrested after police arrived at the scene, in Middleton, to find an injured Orchard on the ground with the victim's parents stood around him. It is not known how he came by his injuries.
Police who investigated the attack, at around 11am on October 25, 2018, discovered Orchard of Thurnby Lodge, Leicester had been on bail after he flashed at two women been jogging in the city's Bradgate Park the previous May.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, the father-to-be admitted sexual assault and indecent exposure and was also ordered to abide by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign the Sex Offender Register for ten years.
'Are you going to kill my daddy?' terrified child asked gunman before gang kidnapped his father
(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
A child asked a gunman who broke into his family home 'are you going to kill my daddy?' before his father was kidnapped, attacked and 'tortured'.
The dad-of-two was only released more than 25 hours later after a ransom of £34,000 was paid.
Paris Bostock, 26; Blake Evers, 24; and Darren Berkeley, 43, and have been jailed for their roles in the shocking incident.
Tammy O'Sullivan, 41, will be sentenced later this week and Elliott Cummings, 29, will be sentenced later this month.
It is thought the victim, who worked in car sales, was targeted because it was believed he had money at his home.
The man was with his partner and two sons at their home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, when four masked men - one armed with a gun - smashed in through a window.
Prosecutors said Berkeley - 'by far the oldest' of the gang, a father-of-four who is Bostock's stepfather - was involved in negotiations for the payment of the ransom and the man's release.
He denied this, with his lawyers claiming during his earlier trial that he was in fact a drug dealer and that 'his acknowledged illegal drugs trade must necessarily involve the use of several mobile telephones which are frequently changed'.
However Berkeley, of no fixed address, was convicted, with the judge saying the verdict proved he 'was a blackmailer, and moreover, the court is entitled to conclude, a blackmailer who played a significant role'.
Evers and Cummings were said to have been involved in the kidnapping and his detention.
All four other defendants other than Berkely pleaded guilty.
Bostock, of Chassen Road, Urmston; Evers, of Thornley Lane South, Stockport; and Cummings, of Mull Avenue, Longsight, admitted false imprisonment.
O'Sullivan, of Earlswood Mead, Pudsey, Leeds, admitted assisting an offender.
Evers was jailed for a total of 19 years at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, which also included sentences from his involvement in a second kidnapping in Fallowfield a month later.
Berkeley was jailed for 12 years and Bostock was handed a nine year jail term.
Woman who tried to get strangers to 'join the mile high club' in drunken rampage on Etihad jet
A woman has been jailed over a drunken four-hour rampage on a holiday jet after she asked male passengers to join her in the ''mile high club'' as the plane cruised at 30,000 feet.
Demi Burton, 20, had already shocked two men by making crude comments about them having mid air sex during an eight hour flight whilst she was intoxicated on red wine.
But when she was refused any more alcohol, Burton, from Carrington, Trafford, shouted: ''You may as well just land the plane now then!'’ before angrily raising her fists at cabin crew and going berserk as 259 passengers looked on.
Staff on the Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester tried to calm Burton down only for her to headbutt, maul and and kick out at them during a violent struggle.
It took six crew members and passengers to restrain her and she was arrested when the plane touched down after a nightmare 4,500 mile journey.
A consultant anaesthetist travelling on the flight who was bitten on the elbow and headbutted as he helped restrain Burton claimed it was worse than working in A&E.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, she was jailed for six months after she admitted being drunk on an aircraft and five charges of assault. The incident began on May 9 shortly after flight EY21 had taken off from the United Arab Emirates.
'The Spice tram to Chadderton': How dealers used Metrolink to peddle drugs and misery
(Image: GMPCityCentre)
Two drug dealers who used Metrolink to peddle Spice across the region have been jailed.
Martin Alan Davies, 29, and Adam Miller, 33, took advantage of Manchester city centre's homeless population to make thousands of pounds from dealing.
The pair moved into the patch after a series of successful prosecutions under Operation Gigg, the police unit set up to tackle Spice dealing, took out several prominent players.
Davies, known by his first name to many drug users in the city centre, began selling Spice at South Chadderton tram stop around 2017.
(Image: GMPCityCentre)
The Manchester Evening News understands groups of as many as fifteen or twenty homeless drug users would then get the tram from the city centre to South Chadderton to pick up Spice.
Davies and Miller, formerly of Whiteley Street, Chadderton, were charged and later pleaded guilty to offences including Possession of Spice With Intent to Supply, Possession of Cannabis and Possession of a Bladed Article.
They were sentenced to 32 months and 39 months in prison respectively.
'Lost Boys' gang member, 13, stabbed child in the back in Piccadilly Gardens over £5
(Image: M.E.N.)
A member of a notorious gang of schoolboy robbers has been locked up for stabbing a 13-year-old boy in Piccadilly Gardens.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, knifed the victim in the back because he refused to hand over just £5.
Manchester Crown Court heard the robber demanded the cash because he wanted to join a group of friends going to the cinema.
It was part of a string of knife-point robberies the boy carried out as part of the Urbis Group, a gang of boys mostly aged 13 and 14-years-old who took over Manchester city centre during the summer of 2018.
In a special report published last year , the Manchester Evening News described the gang as 'The Lost Boys of Manchester'.
During a series of court cases, it emerged the 16-strong group met after being excluded from school and into the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) system.
Many were required to attend only a few hours of school a week, and instead began meeting up in the city centre to carry out increasingly violent robberies.
The gang was finally nailed when Greater Manchester Police detectives in Operation Valiant - the anti-robbery unit - launched a painstaking investigation that resulted in more than 100 charges.
Their work tackling the gang, and others operating in the city centre, continues and today one of the main players in the 'Lost Boys' group was sentenced to a year in youth custody.
Now aged 14, he was just 13-years-old when he stabbed another young boy in a shocking and unprovoked attack in November 2018.
The boy was sentenced to a 12-month Detention and Training Order.
Forest Bank lag who'd had a 'difficult day' headbutted prison officer and left him with a broken nose
(Image: GMP)
A prison officer left covered in blood after an angry lag headbutted him had a 'premonition' that he was going to be attacked, a court heard.
Geoffrey Hampshire, 46, assaulted the officer at Forest Bank prison in Salford after having a 'difficult day'.
The officer was left with a broken nose and suffered 'copious blood loss'.
The attack led him to undergo a 'dramatic loss of confidence'.
Sentencing Hampshire to an additional six months in jail after he pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, Judge Alan Conrad QC told him: "You headbutted a prison officer who had done nothing to warrant what you did.
"He was a public servant doing his job in difficult circumstances."
Pervert woman befriended 'vulnerable' girl, 13, before sexually abusing her for weeks...the teenager ended up trying to take her own life
(Image: Cavendish Press)
A woman who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl has now been jailed.
Martine Brayshaw was 22 when she started to befriend the "vulnerable" teenager, who had a torrid home life.
What began as a friendship soon turned into sexual abuse over a two month period, though, and was only uncovered when the schoolgirl, who cannot be named, was confronted by her mother.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard the girl's relationship with Brayshaw "contributed" to the youngster trying to take her own life. After being treated in hospital, she told police of the abuse.
Later, Brayshaw of Coldhurst, Oldham, turned up at the girl's home, threw a burning rag at the property and screamed abuse at the girl and her mother, threatening to ‘get people round’.
Brayshaw, now 24, was jailed for 30 months after she was convicted of seven charges of sexual activity with a child and two offences of witness intimidation.
Cocaine-fuelled thug stabbed love rival three times in the head with machete after being sent pictures of him kissing his ex
A thug who repeatedly stabbed a love rival in the head with a machete has been jailed for ten years.
Liam Morgan, 31, flew into a rage after he was sent pictures via Facebook Messenger of his ex-girlfriend kissing the victim, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Fuelled by cocaine and booze, Morgan stormed round to his ex-girlfriend's address in Harpurhey armed with a 'machete-type' weapon, the court was told.
When she answered the door, Morgan pushed her out of the way and immediately went to attack her new partner.
He launched himself at the victim, slashing him on the wrist, and three times around the head when he attempted to flee into the kitchen, the court heard.
Morgan's three children with his ex-partner were asleep in the home at the time.
Morgan was arrested at the scene last August and charged with section 18 wounding with intent.
He pleaded guilty and Judge Nicholls sentenced Morgan to ten years in prison.
Man who smashed pint glass into the side of pub customer's face jailed for five years
A man who smashed a pint glass into the side of man's face has been jailed for five years.
The victim was with a group of friends in The Welcome Inn, on Bury Old Road, Whitefield, when he asked attacker Alexander Sinclair, 28, to move and an argument started.
Sinclair, of Langley Hall Road, Prestwich, tried to punch the victim with his left hand and then smashed a pint glass into the side of his face with his right hand.
The victim suffered from head and face injuries during the incident in in December 2018, which required hospital treatment.
Sinclair was later arrested and taken into police custody for interview.
He denied the offence, but following a trial a jury found him guilty of section 18 assault.
During a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court Sinclair was sentenced to five years in prison.
Psychopath Manchester student raped hundreds of men in his city centre flat
A Manchester student who raped up to 200 men who were out clubbing in the city has been exposed as Britain’s worst rapist and jailed for life.
Reynhard Sinaga lured drunk men back to his city centre apartment at Montana House, Princess Street, before poisoning them with GHB, raping them and filming them while they were ‘comatose’, a series of Manchester Crown Court trials has heard.
The 36-year-old - described as a ‘psychopath’ by police - has now been convicted of raping 44 men, aged 17 to 36, over two-and-a-half years.
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting an additional four victims.
The extraordinary case can only be reported now - after four trials, spanning the course of 18 months, concluded with guilty verdicts at Manchester Crown Court.
Detectives believe the true number of victims is at least 195, based on the hundreds of hours of video footage the Indonesia national took of the attacks.
Dozens of men have yet to be identified and are unlikely to know they were raped because of the memory-wiping effect of the drug Sinaga used to knock out his victims.
It makes the PhD student, who studied at Manchester and Leeds universities, the most prolific rapist in British judicial history - worse even than the notorious ‘black cab rapist’ John Worboys.
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themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--The Masked Singer fans are convinced Meghan Markle is Queen Bee

Wannabe detectives are convinced Meghan Markle is rounding off a busy week by appearing on The Masked Singer as Queen Bee .
Twitter was flooded with talk that Meghan might be using the bizarre show to launch a new singing career after the announcement that she and hubby Harry are stepping back as senior royals in a bid to become more financially independent .
The couple indicated that they intend to step back as senior members of the royal family and will divide their time between North America and the UK while `` continuing to honour our duty to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
They announced their shock news on their Sussex Royal Instagram account , and fans think the former Suits actress could now be about to rock it as a singer .
`` The Queen Bee is deffo Meghan Markle launching her career ! ''
said one .
`` THAT ’ s why she ’ s leaving !
BOOM !
What a way to do it ! ''
`` Queen Bee is definitely Meghan Markle , the other news is just a cover story !
! ''
said another .
`` How great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meghan Markle , '' tweeted another fan .
Viewers think the Queen Bee title points at royalty and the new clues that she 's an activist and working in human rights also point at the Duchess of Sussex .
`` The clues for Queen Bee are SCREAMING Meghan Markle , '' said one .
`` Ok.
I ’ ve got it .
Queen Bee .
Activist .
Human rights .
It ’ s Meghan Markle ! ''
said another .
`` Solved it ; the Queen Bee is Meghan Markle , '' wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Would n't it just be rocking if Queen Bee was Meghan Markle ... . ''
The ITV singing competition sees celebrities face-off against each other singing in elaborate costumes with face masks concealing their identities .
At the end of each episode one eliminated contestant removes their mask to reveal their true identity .

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Wannabe detectives are convinced Meghan Markle is rounding off a busy week by appearing on The Masked Singer as Queen Bee.
Twitter was flooded with talk that Meghan might be using the bizarre show to launch a new singing career after the announcement that she and hubby Harry are stepping back as senior royals in a bid to become more financially independent.
The couple indicated that they intend to step back as senior members of the royal family and will divide their time between North America and the UK while "continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages."
They announced their shock news on their Sussex Royal Instagram account, and fans think the former Suits actress could now be about to rock it as a singer.
(Image: Bandicoot TV)
"The Queen Bee is deffo Meghan Markle launching her career!" said one.
"THAT’s why she’s leaving! BOOM! What a way to do it!"
"Queen Bee is definitely Meghan Markle, the other news is just a cover story!!" said another.
"How great would it be if Queen Bee was Meghan Markle," tweeted another fan.
Viewers think the Queen Bee title points at royalty and the new clues that she's an activist and working in human rights also point at the Duchess of Sussex.
(Image: Getty Images)
"The clues for Queen Bee are SCREAMING Meghan Markle," said one.
"Ok. I’ve got it. Queen Bee. Activist. Human rights. It’s Meghan Markle!" said another.
"Solved it; the Queen Bee is Meghan Markle," wrote another.
And another tweeted: "Wouldn't it just be rocking if Queen Bee was Meghan Markle...."
The ITV singing competition sees celebrities face-off against each other singing in elaborate costumes with face masks concealing their identities.
At the end of each episode one eliminated contestant removes their mask to reveal their true identity.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news. We are also on Instagram.
If you are on the go, the M.E.N. app helps bring you closer to the latest news where you live. Available on iPhone and Android, the app can be tailor-made to bring you the latest on what matters to you.
Breaking news, the latest on your football club, the pick of the week’s events and the latest travel - you can tailor the app to suit you. Our push notifications help highlight the biggest stories to you first.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Problems on the motorways after heavy rain causes flooding

Heavy rainfall is causing problems on the roads this evening .
Several slip roads on the M60 have been closed due to flooding .
Highways England tweeted just before 7pm to say that the anti-clockwise exit slip at junction 17 for Whitefield/Prestwich was being shut .
Maintenance crews were said to be on their way to the scene .
Shortly afterwards , the anti-clockwise entry slip road at junction 11 for Irlam and Eccles was also closed because of flooding .
There has also reportedly been a collision on the A627M between junction 1 at Chadderton and 2 which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , A6017 Stockport Road in Ashton-under-Lyne has been shut in both directions following a collision .
One lane has been closed on the A580 East Lancashire Road due to a 'police incident ' and there are two lanes closed and slow traffic on the M60 at junction 22 for Failsworth due to a collision .
The North West Motorway Police tweeted a warning to drivers , saying : `` Flooding across the network if you are planning a journey keep reduce your speed . ''
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your Apple or Android device .
You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here .
And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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Heavy rainfall is causing problems on the roads this evening.
Several slip roads on the M60 have been closed due to flooding.
Highways England tweeted just before 7pm to say that the anti-clockwise exit slip at junction 17 for Whitefield/Prestwich was being shut.
Maintenance crews were said to be on their way to the scene.
Shortly afterwards, the anti-clockwise entry slip road at junction 11 for Irlam and Eccles was also closed because of flooding.
There has also reportedly been a collision on the A627M between junction 1 at Chadderton and 2 which is causing delays.
Elsewhere on the roads, A6017 Stockport Road in Ashton-under-Lyne has been shut in both directions following a collision.
One lane has been closed on the A580 East Lancashire Road due to a 'police incident' and there are two lanes closed and slow traffic on the M60 at junction 22 for Failsworth due to a collision.
The North West Motorway Police tweeted a warning to drivers, saying: "Flooding across the network if you are planning a journey keep reduce your speed."
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here . And you can follow us on Facebook here .


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Bruno Fernandes plays for Sporting Lisbon amid Manchester United transfer speculation

Bruno Fernandes has been named in Sporting Lisbon 's team to face Setubal in the Primeira Liga on Saturday night .
Fernandes was incessantly linked with a transfer to Manchester United last summer and speculation resurfaced in the Portuguese media on Friday .
Several Portuguese outlets reported that Sporting officials had travelled to England for transfer talks at the end of the week .
Had Fernandes been omitted from Sporting 's squad to face Setubal , it might have been reasonable to speculate that his absence had something to do with a possible transfer .
United sources are guarded about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being driven out of Portugal ' .
Sources suspect an auction is being whipped up for Fernandes after he signed a new Sporting contract in November until 2023 .
It has been suggested his deal includes a release clause .
Asked directly about the prospect of United signing Fernandes this month after the Reds ' win over Norwich on Saturday , Solskjaer told beIN Sports : `` I can ’ t talk about individuals that play for other clubs , but I ’ ve got to say I do have the backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do something if the right thing comes up in this window .
“ The owners and Ed , they know what we ’ re building towards .
”

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Bruno Fernandes has been named in Sporting Lisbon's team to face Setubal in the Primeira Liga on Saturday night.
Fernandes was incessantly linked with a transfer to Manchester United last summer and speculation resurfaced in the Portuguese media on Friday.
Several Portuguese outlets reported that Sporting officials had travelled to England for transfer talks at the end of the week.
Had Fernandes been omitted from Sporting's squad to face Setubal, it might have been reasonable to speculate that his absence had something to do with a possible transfer.
United sources are guarded about the renewed speculation and noted the 'noise is being driven out of Portugal'. Sources suspect an auction is being whipped up for Fernandes after he signed a new Sporting contract in November until 2023. It has been suggested his deal includes a release clause.
Asked directly about the prospect of United signing Fernandes this month after the Reds' win over Norwich on Saturday, Solskjaer told beIN Sports: "I can’t talk about individuals that play for other clubs, but I’ve got to say I do have the backing.
“We do have the backing to do something if the right thing comes up in this window.
“The owners and Ed, they know what we’re building towards.”


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Who are The Masked Singer stars? Fans think they've worked out which celebrities are behind the mask

Who are The Masked Singer stars? Fans think they've worked out which celebrities are behind the masks

It 's the show with a bizarre concept that 's had the nation hooked , and the biggest draw for @ @ @ @ @ can play along at home with The Masked Singer .
The secretive singing competition sees @ @ @ @ @ to sing in elaborate costumes with full face masks concealing their identities .
At the @ @ @ @ @ eliminated contestant removes their mask to reveal their true identity - and viewers have been @ @ @ @ @ media about who they think each character is , from the fox to the octopus @ @ @ @ @ even driven to tweet : `` I can confirm I am not a singing tree @ @ @ @ @ star Patsy Palmer was unveiled as the butterfly , the chameleon was The Darkness singer @ @ @ @ @ was unmasked as former home secretary Alan Johnson .
Here 's a guide to which @ @ @ @ @ the masks , according to viewers .

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It's the show with a bizarre concept that's had the nation hooked, and the biggest draw for many viewers is that they can play along at home with The Masked Singer.
The secretive singing competition sees celebrities face-off against each other to sing in elaborate costumes with full face masks concealing their identities.
At the end of each episode one eliminated contestant removes their mask to reveal their true identity - and viewers have been having their say on social media about who they think each character is, from the fox to the octopus.
Footballer Peter Crouch was even driven to tweet: "I can confirm I am not a singing tree."
So far EastEnders star Patsy Palmer was unveiled as the butterfly, the chameleon was The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins, the pharaoh was unmasked as former home secretary Alan Johnson, the tree was former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and daisy was singing superstar Kelis.
Here's a guide to which celebs are still hiding behind the masks, according to viewers.
Queen Bee
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
Charlotte Church
Nicola Roberts
Courtney Act
Kelly Osbourne
Duck
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
Dame Kelly Holmes
Denise Lewis
Nicola Adams
Mo Farah
Greg Rutherford
Coleen Nolan
Skin
Fatima Whitbread
Mel C
Unicorn
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
John Barrowman
Courtney Act
Mika
Louie Spence
Hedgehog
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
Michael McIntyre
Jason Manford
Shane Richie
Alexander Armstrong
Jack Whitehall
Lee Mead
Monster
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
CeeLo Green
Chris Eubank
James Cordon
Fox
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
Gillian Taylforth
Denise Van Outen
Rita Simons
Octopus
(Image: ITV/Bandicoot TV)
Jodie Marsh
Kimberley Wyat
Ashley Roberts
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news. We are also on Instagram.
If you are on the go, the M.E.N. app helps bring you closer to the latest news where you live. Available on iPhone and Android, the app can be tailor-made to bring you the latest on what matters to you.
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themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Andreas Pereira shares cryptic message after Manchester United beat Norwich

Andreas Pereira uploaded a cryptic message to his Instagram story after Manchester United beat Norwich at Old Trafford .
United recorded their first win of 2020 at the fourth attempt on Saturday afternoon , with a Marcus Rashford brace and goals from Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood securing all three points .
Pereira started for the fifth time in six games and gave an accomplished performance after disappointing in Tuesday 's derby defeat by Manchester City .
The Brazilian was deployed in a deeper midfield role against City and was horribly exposed .
His performance was summed up by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half .
Pereira was more comfortable in an advanced position against Norwich .
Taking to social media after the game , Pereira shared an image of himself from the pre-match warm-up alongside the caption 'Let them talk ' and a shushing emoji .
Of all the players in United 's squad , Pereira takes more flak than most and the majority of United supporters recently voted in favour of him being sold in an MEN poll .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Pereira 's performance against Norwich , telling MUTV : `` I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us . ''

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Andreas Pereira uploaded a cryptic message to his Instagram story after Manchester United beat Norwich at Old Trafford.
United recorded their first win of 2020 at the fourth attempt on Saturday afternoon, with a Marcus Rashford brace and goals from Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood securing all three points.
Pereira started for the fifth time in six games and gave an accomplished performance after disappointing in Tuesday's derby defeat by Manchester City.
The Brazilian was deployed in a deeper midfield role against City and was horribly exposed. His performance was summed up by an own-goal towards the end of the first half.
Pereira was more comfortable in an advanced position against Norwich.
Taking to social media after the game, Pereira shared an image of himself from the pre-match warm-up alongside the caption 'Let them talk' and a shushing emoji.
Of all the players in United's squad, Pereira takes more flak than most and the majority of United supporters recently voted in favour of him being sold in an MEN poll.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Pereira's performance against Norwich, telling MUTV: "I thought Andreas started off really, really well for us."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--National Lottery results draw LIVE: Winning Lotto numbers for Saturday January 11

It 's finally the weekend following a long , first full-week back at work .
If you were too tired to celebrate yesterday evening , then now is your chance .
This Saturday night 's National Lottery is a great double rollover with a jackpot of £7.2million .
Although we 're only at the start of a whole New Year and decade , winning that amount of money could really turn your 2020 around .
Yesterday evening 's Euromillions was also one to remember with an epic £70m on offer .
But if you were to take home the big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you know how you 'd react to the news ?
Would you be left speechless or scream from the rooftops ?
Lizbet Ramus , who won £1m on The National Lottery on Christmas Eve , said she was in `` complete disbelief . ''
She added : `` I was jumping around my kitchen like a mad bunny rabbit '' .
This could be you if you manage to match all six numbers and have luck on your side when the numbers are drawn this evening .
You can buy tickets for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here up until 7.30pm on the day of the draw .
We will reveal tonight 's results , and Thunderball numbers , in our live blow below as they are drawn .

It's finally the weekend following a long, first full-week back at work.
If you were too tired to celebrate yesterday evening, then now is your chance.
This Saturday night's National Lottery is a great double rollover with a jackpot of £7.2million.
Although we're only at the start of a whole New Year and decade, winning that amount of money could really turn your 2020 around.
Yesterday evening's Euromillions was also one to remember with an epic £70m on offer.
But if you were to take home the big bucks in this evening's game, do you know how you'd react to the news?
Would you be left speechless or scream from the rooftops?
Lizbet Ramus, who won £1m on The National Lottery on Christmas Eve, said she was in "complete disbelief."
She added: "I was jumping around my kitchen like a mad bunny rabbit".
This could be you if you manage to match all six numbers and have luck on your side when the numbers are drawn this evening.
You can buy tickets for a draw at the National Lottery website here up until 7.30pm on the day of the draw .
Lottery Tickets cost £2 per line, and include a raffle Millionaire Maker entry code. Thunderball Tickets cost £1.
We will reveal tonight's results, and Thunderball numbers, in our live blow below as they are drawn.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Fay Ripley on the heartbreaking reason she was 'fully prepared' for her Cold Feet character's cancer

Fay Ripley on the heartbreaking reason she was 'fully prepared' for her Cold Feet character's cancer storyline

Cold Feet fans let out a collective cry of sorrow when it was revealed that Jenny Gifford had developed breast cancer .
In series eight of the long-running ITV programme , which is set in Manchester , Jen began her emotional health battle , which tested the Gifford family once again .
The brash but down-to-earth character , played by Fay Ripley , thought she was going through the menopause while hubby Pete ( John Thompson ) believed she was pregnant .
But the truth was much more sinister and she was delivered the blow that she had the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world away from the carefree Jen that we saw at the beginning of the series , which opened at the wedding ceremony of Ramona Ramirez ( Jacey Sallés ) .
Despite the enormity of such a storyline for an actor , Fay told the Manchester Evening News that she was well prepared for tackling it .
“ Sadly my preparation was that loads of my close friends and family have been through it , ” she explained .
“ I was fully prepared I ’ m sorry to say .
“ Probably 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , who do I know ?
`` But now there are loads of people I can ring and ask , what does this feel like ?
What does somebody do at this point ?
“ But having said that a lot of people I know are recovering or have recovered and are in a hopeful place and I think that was really important for my friends and family for me to bring to the party when playing Jenny .
“ That was an influence for me .
Viewers watched in tears as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , losing her hair and going wig shopping with Karen Marsden ( Hermione Norris ) and also losing a friend to the disease .
But in true Cold Feet style there were touching moments , such as her time with the cancer choir , and of course , a generous dose of the show ’ s trademark humour .
Written and created by Mike Bullen , and also starring James Nesbitt as Adam and Robert Bathurst as David , the award-winning show has run eight series since it first aired in 1997 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which starts on Monday , will pick up shortly after the point where the last one ended .
“ Jen ’ s journey is continuing , because as with real life , it doesn ’ t just end , ” explained Fay .
“ When you ’ re in recovery there are other things that need to be done - the kids still need to go to school , the car goes in for a service , life goes on .
“ It is about the continuation of that person ’ s journey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important thing .
“ This is very much Jenny ’ s journey and everyone ’ s is very different .
`` The responsibility we have with that storyline is very important to everybody - especially me .
“ There ’ s a lot of hope - the show is Cold Feet so it remains hopeful - apart from when Rachel got hit by a lorry .
`` We take the odd foray into misery .
“ Hopefully Jen ’ s is a truthful , at times funny , and at other times poignant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Cold Feet series nine begins on Monday , January 13 at 9pm on ITV .
We have a dedicated Facebook page bringing you all the latest TV , entertainment and features from the Manchester Evening News .
To keep up to date with all that is happening , and to join in the discussion , follow the page here .

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Cold Feet fans let out a collective cry of sorrow when it was revealed that Jenny Gifford had developed breast cancer.
In series eight of the long-running ITV programme, which is set in Manchester, Jen began her emotional health battle, which tested the Gifford family once again.
The brash but down-to-earth character, played by Fay Ripley, thought she was going through the menopause while hubby Pete (John Thompson) believed she was pregnant.
But the truth was much more sinister and she was delivered the blow that she had the disease following a mammogram.
It was a world away from the carefree Jen that we saw at the beginning of the series, which opened at the wedding ceremony of Ramona Ramirez (Jacey Sallés).
(Image: ITV)
Despite the enormity of such a storyline for an actor, Fay told the Manchester Evening News that she was well prepared for tackling it.
“Sadly my preparation was that loads of my close friends and family have been through it,” she explained. “I was fully prepared I’m sorry to say.
“Probably 10 years ago I would have had to say, who do I know?
"But now there are loads of people I can ring and ask, what does this feel like? What does somebody do at this point?
“But having said that a lot of people I know are recovering or have recovered and are in a hopeful place and I think that was really important for my friends and family for me to bring to the party when playing Jenny.
“That was an influence for me.
"Please make it hopeful.”
(Image: ITV)
Viewers watched in tears as they witnessed Jenny being given the heartbreaking news, losing her hair and going wig shopping with Karen Marsden (Hermione Norris) and also losing a friend to the disease.
But in true Cold Feet style there were touching moments, such as her time with the cancer choir, and of course, a generous dose of the show’s trademark humour.
(Image: ITV)
Written and created by Mike Bullen, and also starring James Nesbitt as Adam and Robert Bathurst as David, the award-winning show has run eight series since it first aired in 1997.
Fay has revealed series nine, which starts on Monday, will pick up shortly after the point where the last one ended.
“Jen’s journey is continuing, because as with real life, it doesn’t just end,” explained Fay.
(Image: ITV)
“When you’re in recovery there are other things that need to be done - the kids still need to go to school, the car goes in for a service, life goes on.
“It is about the continuation of that person’s journey with cancer and that’s the important thing.
“This is very much Jenny’s journey and everyone’s is very different.
"The responsibility we have with that storyline is very important to everybody - especially me.
(Image: ITV)
“There’s a lot of hope - the show is Cold Feet so it remains hopeful - apart from when Rachel got hit by a lorry.
"We take the odd foray into misery.
“Hopefully Jen’s is a truthful, at times funny, and at other times poignant, story that viewers can relate to.”
Cold Feet series nine begins on Monday, January 13 at 9pm on ITV.
MANCHESTER ENTS
We have a dedicated Facebook page bringing you all the latest TV, entertainment and features from the Manchester Evening News.
To keep up to date with all that is happening, and to join in the discussion, follow the page here .


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Inside Debenhams in Altrincham as it closed its doors for the final time

As you walk around Debenhams in Altrincham on its last day of trading , it 's hard to believe there was ever a shop here .
Shelves which once would have been stocked with luxurious perfumes and aftershaves are empty and clothing rails which would usually be filled with designer clothes are bare .
The Clarins , Lancôme and Estée Lauder makeup counters have been completely dismantled .
Even the 'please pay here ' letters above the tills have fallen off .
Almost all of the stock has been sold and only the ground floor remains open as the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off to customers .
Some staff members are stood around in groups talking , seemingly with nothing left to do .
Others are working frantically behind the tills , serving their last ever customers in this store .
The Stamford Quarter store 's fate was confirmed last April as staff were told it would be shutting down .
And today , it closed its doors for the final time .
It is one of the 19 stores that the company is closing across the country this month .
For some shoppers the closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given our love for online shopping and the harsh reality that less and less people are visiting their local high street .
But for others , the closure has come as a shock .
Viviene , who has lived in the up-market Trafford suburb for the last 20 years , said she thought Debenhams would be the one place where people would continue to visit .
`` It 's sad because they do n't know what 's going to go there '' , she said .
`` I am a bit surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's one place where I thought people would continue to shop . ''
Less than a decade ago the affluent market town of Altrincham was labelled a 'ghost town ' .
In 2010 , the town recorded the highest shop vacancy rates in the UK with almost a third of the shops lying empty .
But in recent years the town has enjoyed something of a renaissance .
Shop vacancies are down by almost three quarters and footfall has continued to rise year-on-year .
Last year , it rose by 3.1pc .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an average decline of 3.8pc .
But Debenhams on George Street could no longer survive among the town 's independent traders and against its rivals .
`` Altrincham has become a coffee shop place '' , Viviene said .
`` I 've lived here for 20 years and the high street is n't what it was , everyone shops online nowadays .
`` I hate the Trafford Centre and I do n't like going to big places , and I thought people would be in these kind of places on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only got a certain amount of money , and you have to pay to park around here now . ''
The store had a massive closing down sale , with 80pc off all stock .
Almost every single thing that was left in the store was up for sale - not just the few items of clothing and several pairs of shoes that were left , but all of the shop 's fixtures and fittings too .
Clothes rails and makeup counters were up for sale .
Viviene had managed to grab a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind one of the beauty counters , for just £10 .
Samina Ahmed , who lives in Old Trafford , also managed to grab herself a few bargains .
She had worked at the store for a few weeks over Christmas so came back with her son today to see what she could find .
`` I do n't know why they 're closing down '' , she said .
`` Debenhams is a big brand and I do n't really know why they 're closing down here . ''
Samina bought two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be £45 each for just £16 altogether .
`` It 's been worth the trip '' , she said .
Debenhams went into administration last year , and the company 's CEO Terry Duddy said the issues facing the UK high were 'very well known ' .
`` We remain focused on protecting as many stores and jobs as possible , consistent with establishing a sustainable store portfolio in line with our previous guidance . ''
The other stores set to shut by the end of the month across the country are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wolverhampton , Chatham , Great Yarmouth , Slough , Stockton-on-Tees , Welwyn , Witney , Ashford , Canterbury , Eastbourne , Folkestone , Southport , Southsea and Wimbledon .
It 's believed that a total of 660 people will lose their jobs as a result of the store closures .
It has not yet been announced what will replace the Altrincham store .
Trafford Council said they were working with owners of the Stamford Quarter to 'look at the future use for the premises ' .
For now , the unit will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a familiar sight on the UK 's high streets .

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As you walk around Debenhams in Altrincham on its last day of trading, it's hard to believe there was ever a shop here.
Shelves which once would have been stocked with luxurious perfumes and aftershaves are empty and clothing rails which would usually be filled with designer clothes are bare.
The Clarins, Lancôme and Estée Lauder makeup counters have been completely dismantled.
Even the 'please pay here' letters above the tills have fallen off.
Almost all of the stock has been sold and only the ground floor remains open as the rest of the department store has been blocked off to customers.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Some staff members are stood around in groups talking, seemingly with nothing left to do.
Others are working frantically behind the tills, serving their last ever customers in this store.
The Stamford Quarter store's fate was confirmed last April as staff were told it would be shutting down.
And today, it closed its doors for the final time.
It is one of the 19 stores that the company is closing across the country this month.
For some shoppers the closure may come as no surprise at all, given our love for online shopping and the harsh reality that less and less people are visiting their local high street.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
But for others, the closure has come as a shock.
Viviene, who has lived in the up-market Trafford suburb for the last 20 years, said she thought Debenhams would be the one place where people would continue to visit.
"It's sad because they don't know what's going to go there", she said.
"I am a bit surprised that it's closing down, it's one place where I thought people would continue to shop."
Less than a decade ago the affluent market town of Altrincham was labelled a 'ghost town'.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
In 2010, the town recorded the highest shop vacancy rates in the UK with almost a third of the shops lying empty.
But in recent years the town has enjoyed something of a renaissance.
Shop vacancies are down by almost three quarters and footfall has continued to rise year-on-year.
Last year, it rose by 3.1pc. For other market towns in the UK, there was an average decline of 3.8pc.
But Debenhams on George Street could no longer survive among the town's independent traders and against its rivals.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
"Altrincham has become a coffee shop place", Viviene said.
"I've lived here for 20 years and the high street isn't what it was, everyone shops online nowadays.
"I hate the Trafford Centre and I don't like going to big places, and I thought people would be in these kind of places on the high street.
"But people have only got a certain amount of money, and you have to pay to park around here now."
The store had a massive closing down sale, with 80pc off all stock.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Almost every single thing that was left in the store was up for sale - not just the few items of clothing and several pairs of shoes that were left, but all of the shop's fixtures and fittings too.
Clothes rails and makeup counters were up for sale.
Viviene had managed to grab a leather stool, which was once used behind one of the beauty counters, for just £10.
Samina Ahmed, who lives in Old Trafford, also managed to grab herself a few bargains.
She had worked at the store for a few weeks over Christmas so came back with her son today to see what she could find.
"I don't know why they're closing down", she said.
(Image: ABNM Photography)
"Debenhams is a big brand and I don't really know why they're closing down here."
Samina bought two pairs of shoes that were supposed to be £45 each for just £16 altogether.
"It's been worth the trip", she said.
Debenhams went into administration last year, and the company's CEO Terry Duddy said the issues facing the UK high were 'very well known'.
"Debenhams has a clear strategy and a bright future", Mr Duddy added.
"We remain focused on protecting as many stores and jobs as possible, consistent with establishing a sustainable store portfolio in line with our previous guidance."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
The other stores set to shut by the end of the month across the country are in Birmingham, Kirkcaldy, Walton-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Wolverhampton, Chatham, Great Yarmouth, Slough, Stockton-on-Tees, Welwyn, Witney, Ashford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Southport, Southsea and Wimbledon.
It's believed that a total of 660 people will lose their jobs as a result of the store closures.
It has not yet been announced what will replace the Altrincham store.
Trafford Council said they were working with owners of the Stamford Quarter to 'look at the future use for the premises'.
For now, the unit will remain empty - which has sadly, become a familiar sight on the UK's high streets.
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themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Manchester United manager Solskjaer asked about Bruno Fernandes transfer speculation

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was coy when asked about reports linking Bruno Fernandes with a transfer to Manchester United after the Reds ' win over Norwich .
Speculation regarding Fernandes ' future intensified on Friday with several Portuguese media outlets reporting that officials from his club Sporting Lisbon had travelled to England for transfer talks .
United were heavily linked with the 25-year-old Portugal international last summer but did not submit a bid for him and reports linking United with Fernandes died down following the summer transfer window 's closure .
United sources are guarded about the renewed speculation and noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portugal ' .
Sources suspect an auction is being whipped up for Fernandes after he signed a new Sporting contract in November until 2023 .
It has been suggested his deal includes a release clause .
Asked directly about the prospect of United signing Fernandes this month , Solskjaer told beIN Sports : `` I can ’ t talk about individuals that play for other clubs , but I ’ ve got to say I do have the backing .
“ We do have the backing to do something if the right thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The owners and Ed , they know what we ’ re building towards.
” Sporting did their utmost to offload Fernandes in the summer and there was interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur .
United 's 'interest ' did not extend beyond mere admiration for the Portuguese .
The super-agent Jorge Mendes is believed to have touched base with Fernandes last August with the promise of a transfer this year .

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was coy when asked about reports linking Bruno Fernandes with a transfer to Manchester United after the Reds' win over Norwich.
Speculation regarding Fernandes' future intensified on Friday with several Portuguese media outlets reporting that officials from his club Sporting Lisbon had travelled to England for transfer talks.
United were heavily linked with the 25-year-old Portugal international last summer but did not submit a bid for him and reports linking United with Fernandes died down following the summer transfer window's closure.
United sources are guarded about the renewed speculation and noted the 'noise is being driven out of Portugal'. Sources suspect an auction is being whipped up for Fernandes after he signed a new Sporting contract in November until 2023. It has been suggested his deal includes a release clause.
Asked directly about the prospect of United signing Fernandes this month, Solskjaer told beIN Sports: "I can’t talk about individuals that play for other clubs, but I’ve got to say I do have the backing.
“We do have the backing to do something if the right thing comes up in this window.
“The owners and Ed, they know what we’re building towards.”
Sporting did their utmost to offload Fernandes in the summer and there was interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. United's 'interest' did not extend beyond mere admiration for the Portuguese.
The super-agent Jorge Mendes is believed to have touched base with Fernandes last August with the promise of a transfer this year.


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Why Ashley Young missed Manchester United win vs Norwich City

Ashley Young missed Manchester United 's Premier League win over Norwich City with an unspecified injury amid doubts over his future at the club .
Young , 34 , was omitted from the squad against Manchester City in midweek but was fit for the League Cup semi-final first leg defeat .
However , Young was injured for the 4-0 win over Norwich .
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Young 'was n't fit to play ' a day after the full-back did not appear in any training photographs published by the club .
Fellow left-back Luke Shaw withdrew from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warm-up to the Norwich match .
The injuries to Young and Shaw leave Brandon Williams as the only fit United left-back currently available to Solskjaer .
Young wants to leave United for Inter Milan this month to savour one last experience in his career .
The MEN understands the United club captain is keen to move to Inter in the January transfer window since Young is conscious he does not have much time left in the game .
Young turns 35 in July .
Young has agreed a contract in principle with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to sign Young on transfer deadline day in 2017 - wants the United full-back to move this month .
Sources say United are 'digging their heels in ' to retain Young until the end of the season - when his deal expires - but he wants to be allowed to leave now .
United offered Young a new one-year contract this week but he had already accepted Inter 's terms .
United were already reluctant to letting their longest-serving player in the current squad leave now , with sources having communicated six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign a left-back .
`` He 's one of our players , '' United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday morning .
`` He 's our captain .
There 's loads of speculation and we 've just got to handle it - we 're getting used to that in club - and Ashley 's been very professional and focused , so I do n't think that 's going to change .
`` That ( Young 's future ) 's a discussion that me and Ash will have if something comes up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fit and ready , so we need the ones we have .
`` Ashley 's been very , very good for this club , he 's been a very good captain this season , so let 's see where we are in June and see where we are in February as well . ''

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Ashley Young missed Manchester United's Premier League win over Norwich City with an unspecified injury amid doubts over his future at the club.
Young, 34, was omitted from the squad against Manchester City in midweek but was fit for the League Cup semi-final first leg defeat. However, Young was injured for the 4-0 win over Norwich.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Young 'wasn't fit to play' a day after the full-back did not appear in any training photographs published by the club.
Fellow left-back Luke Shaw withdrew from the United squad with a tight hamstring during the warm-up to the Norwich match. The injuries to Young and Shaw leave Brandon Williams as the only fit United left-back currently available to Solskjaer.
Young wants to leave United for Inter Milan this month to savour one last experience in his career. The MEN understands the United club captain is keen to move to Inter in the January transfer window since Young is conscious he does not have much time left in the game. Young turns 35 in July.
Young has agreed a contract in principle with Inter and coach Antonio Conte - who tried to sign Young on transfer deadline day in 2017 - wants the United full-back to move this month. Sources say United are 'digging their heels in' to retain Young until the end of the season - when his deal expires - but he wants to be allowed to leave now.
United offered Young a new one-year contract this week but he had already accepted Inter's terms. United were already reluctant to letting their longest-serving player in the current squad leave now, with sources having communicated six weeks ago they had shelved plans to sign a left-back.
"He's one of our players," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday morning. "He's our captain. There's loads of speculation and we've just got to handle it - we're getting used to that in club - and Ashley's been very professional and focused, so I don't think that's going to change.
"That (Young's future)'s a discussion that me and Ash will have if something comes up, we haven't got too many players fit and ready, so we need the ones we have.
"Ashley's been very, very good for this club, he's been a very good captain this season, so let's see where we are in June and see where we are in February as well."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Marcus Rashford explains Manchester United substitution against Norwich

Marcus Rashford has revealed he was substituted by Manchester United against Norwich as a 'precaution ' .
The 22-year-old marked his 200th appearance for United by netting a brilliant brace as they defeated Norwich 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday .
Rashford was in confident mood as he spearheaded United 's victory against Daniel Farke 's side but was substituted before having the chance to complete his hat-trick .
Robin van Persie remains the last United player to have netted three goals in a single Premier League game with his heroics when Sir Alex Ferguson 's side secured the title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rashford admits he fancied his chances at netting another against Norwich at the weekend but is now looking ahead to facing Wolves in the FA Cup third round replay next week .
`` Fancied a hat-trick today but busy few weeks for us , '' the forward wrote on Twitter .
`` Just a precaution and looking forward to getting back at it Wednesday . ''
United bounced back from defeat against Man City in style with their performance on Saturday and speaking after the game Ole Gunnar Solskjaer piled the praise on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Marcus getting to 200 games so quickly , '' the United manager told BBC Sport .
`` He got through most of the game , he is struggling a little bit so we took him off .
He kept his cool .
Very pleased with Marcus . ''
`` We reacted today , we can bounce back and we are taking more than two or three steps forward before one back , because behind the scenes we know we are doing good work . ''

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Marcus Rashford has revealed he was substituted by Manchester United against Norwich as a 'precaution'.
The 22-year-old marked his 200th appearance for United by netting a brilliant brace as they defeated Norwich 4-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Rashford was in confident mood as he spearheaded United's victory against Daniel Farke's side but was substituted before having the chance to complete his hat-trick.
Robin van Persie remains the last United player to have netted three goals in a single Premier League game with his heroics when Sir Alex Ferguson's side secured the title against Aston Villa seven years ago.
Rashford admits he fancied his chances at netting another against Norwich at the weekend but is now looking ahead to facing Wolves in the FA Cup third round replay next week.
"Fancied a hat-trick today but busy few weeks for us," the forward wrote on Twitter. "Just a precaution and looking forward to getting back at it Wednesday."
United bounced back from defeat against Man City in style with their performance on Saturday and speaking after the game Ole Gunnar Solskjaer piled the praise on the England international.
"Fantastic effort by Marcus getting to 200 games so quickly," the United manager told BBC Sport. "He got through most of the game, he is struggling a little bit so we took him off. He kept his cool. Very pleased with Marcus."
"We reacted today, we can bounce back and we are taking more than two or three steps forward before one back, because behind the scenes we know we are doing good work."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-01-11--Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to anti Ed Woodward and Glazer chants

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Manchester United supporters to stick together after thousands of fans audibly turned on Ed Woodward and the Glazer family owners in their win over Norwich City .
With United 3-0 up against Norwich in the second-half of their Premier League stroll , supporters in the 'atmosphere section ' of the Stretford End started chanting , 'Ed Woodward is a w -- -- - ' and fans also aired other vitriolic chants about Woodward .
'We want Glazers out ' was also chanted repeatedly .
Accounts registered at Companies House revealed the executive vice-chairman Woodward was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £1 million less than the year before , according to latest figures .
Rather than feign ignorance , Solskjaer addressed the chanting .
`` I 'm not sure if the players will get it but I noticed , yeah , '' he said .
`` As a club , we 've got to stick together , we 've got to be united , we are a family .
`` I can only say from when I 've been here I 've been backed by the owners , I 've been backed by Ed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for me , make sure they stick together .
`` We are in all competitions .
We are still in the Carabao Cup , the FA Cup , we 're fifth in the league , still challenging .
We 've improved the position from last season , we 've got Europa League .
They ( the supporters ) have just got to believe me when I say I feel we are doing loads of good things behind the scenes .
`` We are going in the right direction .
See the group today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's the core of the group that 's going to go forward . ''
Fifteen years ago , Solskjaer voiced his opposition to the proposed takeover by the Glazers by becoming a patron of Shareholders United .
In February 2005 , Solskjaer said : `` I am honoured .
I think it is important that the club remains in the right hands .
I am absolutely on the supporters ' side and think the club is in very good hands as it is today .
`` I am a United fan myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future . ''
Solskjaer was delighted with United 's 4-0 triumph over Norwich - their joint-biggest win of the campaign - four days after they were humbled 3-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final first leg .
`` Excellent , I 'm very , very happy when the opposition manager can talk and think about how hard Man United are working when the attitude was right , '' Solskjaer added .
`` That was the key today ; intensity , win the ball back after you 've lost it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have time to do that .
`` Today I felt the attitude was right .
If you let Norwich play , which they want to do , they 've got quality players , then it 'll be a tough game at Old Trafford , because then they 'll be running in between and the crowd might be edgy .
`` But today we got an excellent response every time we lost the ball .
You see Anthony , Juan , Andy , Marcus are all chasing after the ball . ''

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Manchester United supporters to stick together after thousands of fans audibly turned on Ed Woodward and the Glazer family owners in their win over Norwich City.
With United 3-0 up against Norwich in the second-half of their Premier League stroll, supporters in the 'atmosphere section' of the Stretford End started chanting, 'Ed Woodward is a w-----' and fans also aired other vitriolic chants about Woodward. 'We want Glazers out' was also chanted repeatedly.
Accounts registered at Companies House revealed the executive vice-chairman Woodward was paid £3.16million last season - despite earning £1 million less than the year before, according to latest figures. Rather than feign ignorance, Solskjaer addressed the chanting.
"I'm not sure if the players will get it but I noticed, yeah," he said. "As a club, we've got to stick together, we've got to be united, we are a family.
"I can only say from when I've been here I've been backed by the owners, I've been backed by Ed and they're supporting me, so for me, make sure they stick together.
"We are in all competitions. We are still in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, we're fifth in the league, still challenging. We've improved the position from last season, we've got Europa League. They (the supporters) have just got to believe me when I say I feel we are doing loads of good things behind the scenes.
"We are going in the right direction. See the group today; the attitude, the work-rate, that's the core of the group that's going to go forward."
Fifteen years ago, Solskjaer voiced his opposition to the proposed takeover by the Glazers by becoming a patron of Shareholders United.
In February 2005, Solskjaer said: "I am honoured. I think it is important that the club remains in the right hands. I am absolutely on the supporters' side and think the club is in very good hands as it is today.
"I am a United fan myself and only want what is best for the future."
Solskjaer was delighted with United's 4-0 triumph over Norwich - their joint-biggest win of the campaign - four days after they were humbled 3-1 by Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
"Excellent, I'm very, very happy when the opposition manager can talk and think about how hard Man United are working when the attitude was right," Solskjaer added. "That was the key today; intensity, win the ball back after you've lost it, no disappointed heads, you don't have time to do that.
"Today I felt the attitude was right. If you let Norwich play, which they want to do, they've got quality players, then it'll be a tough game at Old Trafford, because then they'll be running in between and the crowd might be edgy.
"But today we got an excellent response every time we lost the ball. You see Anthony, Juan, Andy, Marcus are all chasing after the ball."