Nedu Onuoha's warnign for Manchester United

Dec 26 2010 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

NEDUM ONUOHA has warned Manchester United this could be their last merry Christmas.

Sunderland’s on-loan Manchester City defender says his beloved Blues are catching up fast, and only a defeat against Everton on Monday prevented City displacing United and topping the table at Christmas for the first time in 81 years.

Onuoha is aiming to help Sunderland put a dent in United’s title hopes as the Black Cats head to Old Trafford this afternoon.

The lifelong City fan could think of no better Christmas present than three points at the expense of the Red Devils.

The 24-year-old said: “There is a heck of a divide between City and United, especially now because City have waited so long to rival United.

“It is not just talk anymore. On Monday, City had the chance to go top of the league – when was the last time they were even close to United at this point of the season?

“It would have been massive for City to knock them off their perch for Christmas but, in the same breath, I don’t think the fact they lost that game against Everton means their season is over.

“They are still up there, but Manchester United have games in hand and you find that in the second half of the season you have to at least match what they are doing because they tend to go on massive runs of win after win.”

For all the rivalry between the red and blue halves of Manchester, Onuoha respects the Old Trafford club’s achievements.

It is a sign of Man United’s quality that, while they have rarely produced their best form this season, they find themselves two points clear at the top with a game in hand at this stage of the campaign.

Onuoha added: “It is always big for me being a City fan to go to Old Trafford.

“You want to beat them, but you do respect them because as far as Premier League history goes they are the stand-out team comfortably.

“Manchester United speak for themselves. People can think what they like of them, but they are sitting on top of the tree and they are not playing that well.

“It is the type of thing most teams dream of.

“Whether they will stay top, I don’t know. I think, at some point, it is going to be tough for them because teams go through bad spells.

“Who knows? It all depends on the teams around them.”