Derby dates confirmed

United will face Derby County away on Wednesday January 7, kick off 7,45pm and play the second leg at home on Tuesday January 20, kick off 8pm. Both matches will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Tokyo tickets ready for collection

Anyone who has bought tickets for either of United's two games at next week's World Club Championship in Tokyo can now collect them from the ticket office. Take photo ID.
The club and the British Embassy in Tokyo have published this document offering important advice to those making the trip.

Saints ticket info

United have been given 4,700 tickets for the January 4 FA Cup Third Round tie at Southampton.

They cost £30 for adults, £20 for over 65s and supporters aged from 17 to 19 or that are students and £15 for under 16s.

Executive members and season ticket holders who went to home cup games against Villarreal, Middlesbrough, Celtic, QPR and Blackburn can apply by calling 0161 868 8000 and choosing option 1.

The deadline is 8am this Friday. Results are out on December 17.

If you want a student ticket and your application is successful, it will be posted to you. You must then bring the ticket to the ground and show their student ID to make sure they get the student price.

The club are running coaches to the match, with places priced at £30 per person. They leave the Old Trafford N2 car park at 10.30am and will be back by 11.30pm. To book, click here.

Derby clash awaits reds

United will face Championship side Derby County in a two-leg semi final of the Carling Cup, yesterday's draw revealed.

The reds will travel to Pride Park on the week commencing January 5 (so it'll probably be Wednesday given United's trip to Southampton the previous Sunday) and will get 5,000 tickets for the match. The kick off time and ticket details have still to be announced.

The second leg at Old Trafford will take place on Monday January 19. Season ticket holders must buy tickets or lose the right to apply for away tickets. Tickets are on open sale now through 0161 868 8000 option 1.

Tottenham travel guide

Tottenham
White Hart Lane, London
Saturday December 13, kick off 5.30pm

Tickets
Out of a stadium capacity of 36,244, Spurs have given United 1,900 tickets in the lower tier of the south stand. They cost £43 adults, £25 for over 65s and £23 for under 16s.

All tickets have been allocated. If you applied, find out if you have been successful here.

TV
This game will be shown live on Setanta Sports 1. The programme starts at 5pm.

Travel

We recommend....
Drive or take the official coach. It will be an absolute ballache to get home after this one by public transport.

Car - £53.23

If you're using a Sat nav or a routeplanner, use the postcode N17 0AP.

The journey will cost you £53.23 if you don't go on the M6 Toll and a further £4 each way if you do. It should take three hours and 30 minutes each way.

The best route is via the M6, the M42, the M1, the M25, the A10 and the A406.

Unlike neighbouring Arsenal, there is free street parking available to the east of the stadium. As always, the earlier you arrive, the better. You'll find several schools and offices offering matchday parking for £5 to £10.

Train - £55
It's easy enough getting down there, but you'll have to be careful on the way home.

The route there is
Manchester Piccadilly ---> London Euston ---> Seven Sisters -> White Hart Lane

Leave Manchester: 07:43 07:55 08:42 08:54 09:40 09:55 10:40 10:58 11:40 11:58 12:40 12:58
Arrive White Hart Lane: 11:36 12:06 12:36 13:06 13:36 14:06 14:36 15:06 15:36 16:06 16:36 17:06

White Hart Lane mainline station is five minutes walk from the stadium

But DON'T try this on the way back, else you won't make it back to Manchester until late Sunday morning.

In fact, you've got 46 minutes after the match ends to get back to London Euston and if you don't make that train, you're screwed.

Leave London Euston at 20:01, arrive Piccadilly at 23:50
This is going to be a push.

The best, and probably only, safe option is to get a taxi to Seven Sisters tube and then get the Victoria Line south to Euston. It usually takes 12 minutes, but you'll be up against it to get to the platform on time.

If you are going buy train, the best way to get the cheapest fare is
Manchester to Euston advanced one way for £26 from Virgin Trains
Euston to Manchester advanced one way for £20.50 from Virgin Trains

Euston to White Hart Lane off-peak return on the day for £8.50

Club coach - £30
Places are available for £30 per person. The coaches leave at 11am from the N2 car park at Old Trafford and are expected to arrive back at midnight.

Public coach - £33
Megabus runs coaches from Chorlton Street to Victoria Coach Station. The only problem is that there's only one coach home and it leaves at 23:00

Manchester to London
Leave Chorlton Street: 08:45 10:30
Arrive Victoria: 13:30 15:00
Journey time: 4:45 4:30
Cost one way: £20 £20

On arrival, you can get the London Tube north from Victoria to Seven Sisters for £8 return (you need a Zone 1-3 day travelcard) and, from there, it's a 15-minute walk to the ground

London to Manchester
Leave Victora 23:00
Arrive Chorlton Street: 03:00
Journey time: 4:00
Cost one way: £5

National Express

There are coaches from Chorlton Street to Victoria Coach Station, but not on the way back. There is one way back, but it's a nightmare.

Manchester to London
Leave Chorlton Street: 06:30 07:30 08:30 11:35
Arrive Victoria: 12:00 12:45 13:00 15:45
Journey time: 5:30 5:20 4:25 4:10
Average return cost: £24.90

On arrival, you can get the London Tube north from Victoria to Seven Sisters for £8 return (you need a Zone 1-3 day travelcard) and, from there, it's a 15-minute walk to the ground

London to Manchester
You'll need to get a taxi from the ground to Golders Green bus station.

Then the NX420 coach leaves at 19:35, arrives Birmingham at 21:50.

You then have to wait until 22:30 for the NX336 coach to arrive. That'll get you back to Chorlton Street at 01:10.

Flights
Flights are available between Heathrow and Manchester and Stansted and Manchester, but you're looking at £200 return and a close call to make the return flights. It really isn't worth it.

Tokyo tournament on Five

Good news, folks - we've finally got confirmation that Five will show United's semi final clash in the World Club Championship on December 18, kick off 10.30am (yes, you read that right).
We'll find out on December 14 who United face. Adelaide United play Waitakere United on December 11 and the winners play Gamba Osakae in a quarter final tie.
So it's probably best to start buttering up your boss to ensure he or she shows a bit of a festive favour by sacrificing the office telly in just under two week's time.
Get full tournament info here.

Sunday date for Saints trip

United will face Southampton at the St Mary's Stadium on Sunday January 4, with a 4pm kick off in the FA Cup Third Round.

The match will be shown live in Setanta Sports 1. Ticket application details will be announced in the next few weeks and a travel guide will be posted here soon.

Meanwhile, application details for tickets to see United at Stoke on Boxing Day have been released.

Reds will get 2,800 tickets.

Executive members can apply up until 8pm on Friday by post or by calling 0161 868 8000 (select option 1 twice).

Season ticket holders who bought tickets to the home matches against Villareal, Middlesbrough, Celtic, QPR and Blackburn in cup competitions can apply via the same avenues from 8am on Monday for 48 hours.

United are running coaches to the game, priced at £17 per person. They leave Old Trafford N2 car park at 9.45am and are due to return by 4.45pm. To book click here.