United find new belief

After the "disaster" of the last Premiership campaign, Manchester United star Darren Fletcher claims the Old Trafford superstars have the new-found belief to set their own Premiership records this season.

United have made a flying start by winning their first five games at home and abroad without conceding a goal.

It is in stark contrast to last season when the team - without Olympians Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze and the suspended Rio Ferdinand - won just one of their first five Premiership matches.

Fletcher said: "If we didn't think we could challenge it would really depress us to think Chelsea had won the league already,

"That is all I have read all summer. But fair play to them for the way they performed last season and started this one. They have raised the bar. The season before Arsenal were unbeaten and last season Chelsea only lost once and set a new points record.

"Manchester United have yet to reach that standard but we hope there are players around the place up for the challenge. The manager certainly is.

"I think being completely written off has hurt everyone. The manager is a very proud man."