Quinton Fortune is ready to turn his back on South Africa to help Manchester United's Premiership title push.
Fortune is one of the few United players still at the club this week, with 17 members of Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team squad jetting off to various corners of the globe for key international fixtures. South Africa are not in action this week, which gives Fortune a chance to work on his fitness after a fortnight out of the team with a groin injury. However, the 26-year-old, who was successfully switched to left-back by Ferguson during United's pre-season tour to America, is already looking ahead to the New Year, when his country will compete in the African Nations Cup in Tunisia between January 24 and February 14. The tournament has caused annoyance among Premiership managers before as it falls right in the busiest period of the season. And Fortune has indicated that he may opt not to play if it means getting the chance to further his United career. "The manager needs me here and I want to stay," Fortune told MUTV. "It is a difficult situation because it falls at a very important stage of the season. "We will have to see what happens when it arrives because I have gone the last couple of times and it doesn't do me any good. The manager needs me here and I want to stay. "It is awkward for all the African players and hopefully one day there will be a solution to the problem. Maybe they could play it at a different time of the year." If Fortune confirms he will not play, the decision is not likely to be received too well in his homeland, particularly as he missed South Africa's friendly with England this summer after deciding to go on holiday to America when he was left out of the initial squad. Fortune was eventually called up but was uncontactable because his mobile did not work in the United States and only heard about the frantic attempts to find him when he returned to Europe. "I don't have a problem with South Africa," he said. "They know where I am if they need me but no-one has been in touch since the summer and at the moment, I don't even know who the coach is." ----------------------------------------- Email provided by http://www.ntlhome.com/ ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
