Ronaldo waits for rest
Sir Alex Ferguson will bide his time before taking Manchester United starlet Cristiano Ronaldo out of the firing line.
The United boss stated at the start of the season that he would be handing the teenage winger a break at some point during the campaign.
Ferguson is worried that, after his European Championship and Olympic exploits, a continued run in the team would take the edge off the 19-year-old.
Ronaldo has looked off-colour in United´s last two matches but that has not persuaded Ferguson to send the attacker back to Portugal for a rest.
Last season, Ronaldo had a sojourn at Christmas and Ferguson confirmed that he will wait a bit longer before awarding the youngster a sabbatical.
" There is going to be a spell where Cristiano needs a rest," Ferguson told the Manchester Evening News.
" It is a question of picking the moment. Last year, we sent him home for a break at Christmas and we will have to see what we do this time.
" At the moment I have no definite plans for him. He is okay just now but we will be assessing him all the time."
As Ronaldo waits for a rest, one player due for more involvement in Ferguson´s plans is Scotland international Darren Fletcher.
The midfielder featured in The Premiership for just the second time this season against Newcastle United at the weekend and Ferguson was buoyed by Fletcher´s display.
He added: " Darren was excellent at Newcastle.
" He took his time to get into things last term and it has been the same way this year. He is getting his game going again."