United trio doubtful for tour

United trio doubtful for tour

Published Jul. 6, 2013 1:16 p.m. ET

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been arrested after an alleged drunken assault at a railway station.

Gascoigne, 46, who left rehab in the United States earlier this year, was held after an incident in Hertfordshire.

A Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a report of a man allegedly being drunk and disorderly at Stevenage railway station at 10.30pm on Thursday July 4.

"Officers attended the location and arrested a 46-year-old male on suspicion of common assault and being drunk and disorderly."

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The ex-Newcastle and Tottenham player was taken into custody but was not charged, police added.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Gascoigne was bailed after being held in a police cell for 12 hours overnight.

Earlier this year, Gascoigne said he wanted to "get back to reality" after the latest health scare in his battle with alcohol addiction.

He told ITV1's Daybreak in March: "I didn't ask to be an alcoholic, but I must admit I worked on it. I went to any lengths to get my drink, I'll go even further to stay sober."

The trio missed the end of the season with ankle, foot and nose problems respectively.

They are still to begin training and will be assessed at the start of next week before it is decided whether they will travel to Thailand on Wednesday for the start of United's five-match summer programme.

"We have a few injury doubts and people coming back from injury," said new manager David Moyes.

"They still may go but will be assessed at the start of next week."

Moyes also confirmed new-boy Wilfried Zaha will report for the first time on Monday after being given extended leave following the European Under-21 Championship.

However, Shinji Kagawa will not link up until United reach Japan on July 21, whilst Javier Hernandez will miss out completely.

Moyes has been linked with a succession of potential signings, although he admitted time is running out to actually make any prior to departure.

And other than state the obvious, the Scot opted against fuelling any rumours for Cristiano Ronaldo in particular.

"I would never speak about players at other football clubs because I think it's wrong and not my style," he said.

"But this club is always interested in the best players."

Moyes did confirm he intends to speak with Paul Scholes about a possible coaching role.

When it was announced that fellow 'Class of 92' members Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville were joining Moyes' backroom team, Scholes was nowhere to be seen.

However, Moyes is hopeful that situation will not prove to be a permanent one and will speak with the former England midfielder again once he has recharged his batteries.

"When I spoke to Paul on the phone he was absolutely fantastic," said Moyes.

"He wanted to give me help and some direction on some things. He wants to give his family some time but there will be a place for him and we will look to bring him back in when he is ready."

The appointment of Giggs appears to be a masterstroke, bringing club knowledge previously missing from Moyes' coaching team once Rene Meulensteen had decided he would follow Mike Phelan and Eric Steele out of Old Trafford.

"I wanted to make sure I had connections through what had happened here and the obvious person was Ryan," said Ferguson.

"I've only worked with him for two days but he's an incredible footballer and sometimes until you get really close, you don't realise that."

Still, the enormous sense of change at Old Trafford is inevitable.

Yet Manchester United are not the only club enduring that experience.

Manchester City have a new manager too, whilst Chelsea have appointed an old one who inherits a team that doesn't seem to fit his template.

"I am really pleased to see Jose back," said Moyes.

"We will enjoy having him back in the Premier League again. I have come across Manuel Pellegrini a couple of times with Villarreal and Malaga so it will be new to them as well.

"For the first time there has been a very big shake up in the Premier League. There are a lot of things unknown about how things will pan out."

Not that Moyes has much time to get his feet under the table.

Mourinho's charges head to Old Trafford on the second weekend of the campaign, with trips to Liverpool and Manchester City to follow soon afterwards.

Sir Alex Ferguson was the master of cynicism. Moyes, it seems, is not far behind.

"It's a tough start," he said.

"I'm not convinced that's the way the balls have come out of the hat when that was being done.

"You have to play everybody twice but I look back over the last five years and I've never seen Manchester United get a tougher start in any Premier League season."

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