Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson’s focus is on limiting the damage of once again having a weakened squad at the start of the season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, go into their opener against Portsmouth full of confidence after being denied the trophy by two points in May.

Ferguson experienced his second-worst Premier League start last August with his team producing just one goal and two points in three games, but bounced back to win a second straight title.

While Wayne Rooney will likely partner Carlos Tevez in Sunday’s season opener against Newcastle, Cristiano Ronaldo is sidelined until October after leading the team with 42 goals last season. France striker Louis Saha is also injured, while Nani is suspended and Anderson is competing at the Olympics for Brazil.

Even if his young side slumps in the early games, Ferguson is confident it can respond to any setback.

“Last season we had a staggered start, Tevez and Anderson joined us and weren’t 100 per cent fit, Ronaldo got suspended for three games after the first game, then Rooney got injured in the first match against Reading and was out for three games,” Ferguson said today.

“By the time we got everyone focused and fit, we then went on a fantastic run with our consistency and really good football.

“I’d prefer to get a good start, we want that, but we are also able to go the long distance.”

While Owen Hargreaves is ruled out of the midfield, captain Gary Neville has returned in defence after playing just a few minutes last season.

“In terms of attacking options we are down to the bare bones a bit,” Ferguson said. “But the backbone is with the midfield players and defenders, and there is good variety there.”

Kevin Keegan will begin his first full season back with the Magpies without England striker Michael Owen, who has only just returned to training after a calf problem.

“He won’t play tomorrow, and his next target is our first home game with Bolton Wanderers next weekend,” Keegan said. “It’s a tough target, but one we are hoping he will get to.”

Striker Obafemi Martins could be available despite his off-season preparations being hampered by his mother’s death in Nigeria and a knee complaint.

Luiz Felipe Scolari gets his first taste of European club management on Sunday, when Chelsea host Portsmouth.

Chelsea captain John Terry hopes his team can capitalise on United’s shortcomings and pull away early, seeing the acquisition of Portugal playmaker Deco as a valuable off-season addition from FC Barcelona.

“We need to start well and get off to a flyer and just keep winning,” Terry said. “Man United have a few tough games early on. We need to focus. We have a good home record and if we can continue that and get off to a good start we’ll be all right.”

In Sunday’s other match, Mark Hughes faces a tough task preparing his new Manchester City side for a trip to Aston Villa.

The team will have to forget unsettling headlines about owner Thaksin Shinawtra’s future amid legal problems in Thailand and a 1-0 defeat against FC Midtjylland of Denmark in Thursday night’s first leg of a UEFA Cup qualifier.

“We need to step up to the plate and become more dynamic,” Hughes said today.

“It is important we show a bit more quality on the ball with the right pass at the right time.”

© AP 2012

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