TV fixtures just crazy, says Fergie

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United face their north-west neighbours at 12.45pm, on a weekend when only Aston Villa v West Ham occupies the 'normal' 3pm Saturday kick-off slot.

TV torture: Ferguson is not happy

There are just two Premier League games taking place today — with eight tomorrow — as a mixture of TV requirements and the effects of UEFA Cup participation hits the scheduling like never before.

Of United's 12 games in all competitions so far this season, only two, at Portsmouth and Everton, did not figure on the live TV schedule, and the Premier League champions will not enjoy a 3pm Saturday kick-off until Middlesbrough visit Old Trafford on October 27.

Ferguson said: "I couldn't believe it when I got the list of matches through with all the refereeing allocations on it. I looked at it and wondered where all the Saturday games had gone. What is it all about?

"It is all the supporters I feel sorry for. I can't believe the fixture list. I just don't know how that has come about.

"It's not fair on the fans and I think that the Saturday 5.15pm time is a horrible and crazy time for football. But it just shows you how the game has changed. I couldn't have imagined this scenario 15 years ago. No Saturday games, all Sunday games. There must be some weddings on Saturday or something!"

Ferguson's team face Wigan today with something of a midfield crisis, with Owen Hargreaves (knee) and Michael Carrick (elbow) both ruled out for several weeks in the past few days.

There was some better news for Hargreaves yesterday when it emerged that his injured knee has responded well to an injection and that he may be ready for a return to action after the international break.