Manchester United v Portsmouth
The FA Community Shield, sponsored by McDonald's 2008
3pm, Sunday 10 August 2008
Wembley Stadium
Live on Setanta, highlights on ITV
After watching from the sidelines as Manchester United enjoyed one of their most successful seasons of all-time, Gary Neville is doing everything he can to get back into the side - but admits it will be a challenge.
England duo Wes Brown and Owen Hargreaves both acquitted themselves well in Neville's familiar position at right-back, but the United skipper believes that having so many players for each position is one of the main reasons there has been such success at Old Trafford.
In an exclusive interview for the match programme Neville said: "The competition for places throughout the team is fantastic and there are probably two or three players who can play in each position. That makes it difficult to get into the team and obviously my challenge this season is not only to stay fit, but to make my way into the team again.
"That's going to be difficult because of the way Wes performed and also Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea in the right-back position, and the way the defence played in general - they were outstanding. But I've never been afraid of a challenge and I don't see it as a pressure or a burden, it's exciting and a fantastic incentive."
Looking to United's opponents in The FA Community Shield on Sunday, Neville says that Harry Redknapp's side could challenge the top four this season.
Having beaten United on their way to a first FA Cup triumph in 69 years, Neville feels that Portsmouth have the strength and quality to progress even further this year.
"Portsmouth have amassed a fantastic squad over the last two or three seasons and they are packed with top international players now," the United defender explained.
"They have done fantastically well to get where they are now, they won The FA Cup last season which was an amazing achievement and with the players they have there is nothing to say they can't push on and challenge the top four.
"The likes of Sol Campbell, Distin, Diarra, Papa Boupa Diop, Jermain Defoe, Kanu, Peter Crouch, David James, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar - you really are talking about a side with great strength and ability. They are very difficult to beat with their physical strength and mixed in with that they have some hugely skillful players.
"Harry Redknapp has done a fantastic job getting the players that he has brought in, winning The FA Cup was a great achievement and they can only push on from there."
