Daley Blind knows he and his Manchester United teammates are going to have to battle hard for places in Louis van Gaal's side.
Utility man Blind on Sunday made his first appearance since sustaining a knee injury in November, playing the duration of United's 1-0 Premier League home loss to Southampton.
The 24-year-old Dutchman started eight games in succession prior to suffering the problem, but he has returned at a time when Man United’s previously extensive injury list has finally been reduced to almost nothing and competition for first-team spots is as fierce as it has been all season.
On-loan striker Radamel Falcao was notably left out of the squad altogether on Sunday, while the United players who did take to the field ultimately produced a poor performance.
And after manager Van Gaal stressed that the next game would be “another moment” in terms of selection, Blind said: “The places in the team are expensive, and the manager has said that, as well.
“So you have to train, every day, very hard to show yourself and show that you really want to play.”
The Netherlands international – who can operate in defence or midfield, and insists he does not mind which – was understandably delighted to be back in action on Sunday as well as disappointed by the result, which he feels it is vital fourth-placed United bounce back from in Saturday’s away trip to QPR.
“It was my first game in seven weeks I think, and it was a bit heavy in the end but I think I felt pretty good after 90 minutes,” Blind said.
“It’s good to be back, I’m only disappointed that it’s not with a win.
“We have to bounce back. We have to stand up as a team with each other and do the best we can in training, every day, and have a good week because we need a win at the weekend.”
Blind concedes it was hard spending time on the sidelines but has emphasised how much support he received from fans during the period – and how settled he is feeling at United in general.
“It’s a nice group and everybody’s really helping me every day and every week,” the £14 million (Dh78m) summer signing from Ajax said.
“It’s just like home; I feel good being here.
“It’s nice that so many people were supporting me and not only from this club, but from my club before and in Holland.
“I had a lot of support and it’s a great feeling. It pushes you every day to work just that little bit harder when you are injured and on your own. It’s nice.
“It was really unlucky, an unlucky moment (sustaining the injury).
“Apart from this injury I’ve been really fit during my career so I hope it stays that way.”
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Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
SPECS
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.