Park Ji-sung Will Get Another Shot

Park Ji-sung, Manchester United’s “new engine,” will try again for his first goal.

Park Ji-sung is scheduled to play in Manchester United’s away game against Newcastle United in the season’s third round of the 2005-2006 Premier League that is to take place in St. James Park in Newcastle, England at 12:00 a.m. (Korean time) on August 28.

Having appeared in two consecutive matches in the beginning of the season, Park Ji-sung did not play in the UEFA Champions League match against Debrecen (Hungary) on

August 25.

There has been talk that Park Ji-sung was starting in place of the team’s main stars, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have been suffering from injuries. The primary interest is on whether Park Ji-sung will continue to be a starting member in a Premier League match after those two players return from injury leave.

Until now, Park Ji-sung has been part of a starting trio with Ruud van Nistlerooy and Wayne Rooney, or played as left midfielder. In the previous two games, his diligence and strong spirit were well recognized, but the English media also pointed out that he had to develop precise passing and goal-scoring skills.

Manchester United is aiming for a third consecutive win, following victories in matches with Everton and Aston. Their next opponent, Newcastle, founded in 1881 and a four-time League champion, is a traditionally strong team that features one of England’s leading strikers, Alan Shearer.

Meanwhile, Ahn Jung-hwan (FC Metz), who has not made a goal since his debut goal in the opening match of France’s Le Championnat League on July 30, will play in his team’s away match against Nantes at 3:00 a.m. (Korean time), on August 28.

Seol Ki-hyun of Wolverhampton will play in his team’s away match against Cardiff City in the fifth round of the Championship League at 11:00 p.m. on August 27, and Lee Young-pyo (PSV Eindhoven), whose transfer to the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur is impending, will play in his team’s away match against Roda JC at 11:30 p.m. on August 28.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com