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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Smith considers Cardiff loan deal | Smith considers Cardiff loan deal |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Manchester United have accepted an offer from Cardiff City to take England striker Alan Smith on loan. | Manchester United have accepted an offer from Cardiff City to take England striker Alan Smith on loan. |
| United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed: "The fact we are no longer in the Carling Cup, I thought a short term loan would be ideal for him. | United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed: "The fact we are no longer in the Carling Cup, I thought a short term loan would be ideal for him. |
| "I think he has spoken to someone at Cardiff but he is not certain about whether to take it or not. | "I think he has spoken to someone at Cardiff but he is not certain about whether to take it or not. |
| "It is a good opportunity for Alan to get some games in - he really needs football quickly." | "It is a good opportunity for Alan to get some games in - he really needs football quickly." |
| Smith, 26, broke an ankle against Liverpool in February and has not played regularly since returning. | Smith, 26, broke an ankle against Liverpool in February and has not played regularly since returning. |
| Cardiff, who top the Championship, need cover as first-choice striker Steve Thompson will be out for most of November with an Achilles injury. | Cardiff, who top the Championship, need cover as first-choice striker Steve Thompson will be out for most of November with an Achilles injury. |
| 606: DEBATE Why do we want to let Smudge go out on loan when our striking options are limited? Mike 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Why do we want to let Smudge go out on loan when our striking options are limited? Mike 606: Have your say |
| The move is thought to have been instigated by Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, formerly Smith's chairman at Leeds. | The move is thought to have been instigated by Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale, formerly Smith's chairman at Leeds. |
| In his time at Leeds, Smith was sent off against Cardiff for elbowing Andy Legg in the Bluebirds' famous 2-1 FA Cup win at Ninian Park in January 2002. | In his time at Leeds, Smith was sent off against Cardiff for elbowing Andy Legg in the Bluebirds' famous 2-1 FA Cup win at Ninian Park in January 2002. |
| Smith is in need of regular football, but since returning to fitness in August he has struggled to force his way into Ferguson's thinking. | Smith is in need of regular football, but since returning to fitness in August he has struggled to force his way into Ferguson's thinking. |
| He was substituted after 60 minutes in the shock Carling Cup defeat by Southend on Tuesday. | |
| Ferguson added: "There is a bit of risk about sending him out. | Ferguson added: "There is a bit of risk about sending him out. |
| "But in the present situation, he needs to get through competitive matches and he is still a bit short for us in that. | "But in the present situation, he needs to get through competitive matches and he is still a bit short for us in that. |
| "But he is improving and it's only through games that he's going to get it back." | "But he is improving and it's only through games that he's going to get it back." |