Sam Allardyce's return to the Reebok Stadium on August 11 is one of the highlights of the opening-day clashes thrown up by the 2007-2006 Premiership fixture list. And Big Sam will be relishing the prospect of returning to former club Bolton just as much as the fans.

OK, so Newcastle and Bolton won't be anyone's tip for the title - including their own fans, probably - but Allardyce did a great job during his time with the Trotters and I for one think he is just the man to help put the Geordies back on the right track as they bid to get right in amongst the big boys.

At the risk of being labelled totally biased, my tip is for Manchester United to successfully defend their Premiership crown. They kick-off with a game that a year ago would have failed to make the glamour category in the big-match ratings - Reading at home. But after their massive achievement last season - they just missed out on a UEFA Cup spot - Steve Coppell's boys have to be taken seriously by everybody. And those howling misses for the England U-21 side apart, Leroy Lita is definitely just one of their number worth watching.

'With Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool continuing to lead the way and Tottenham amongst a bunch of others eager to catch hold of the big four's shirt-tails, it should be a cracker of a campaign'


Man United have already brought in Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves to bolster their squad - and seeing as how they are being linked with anyone and everyone in the transfer market, they promise to be very strong come kick-off time with plenty of talent and lots of back-up, too.

The new season is always a mouthwatering prospect and this one will be no different. With United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool continuing to lead the way and Tottenham amongst a bunch of others eager to catch hold of the big four's shirt-tails, it should be a cracker of a campaign.

Even nice, but soft-centred West Ham are leaving the rest of football goggle-eyed with their massively ambitious bids for top stars in their particular quest to be taken seriously at last in the top flight. Money certainly seems to be no object as they build towards the new season. And keep an eye on Roy Keane as he brings Sunderland proudly back into the big time.

The transfer merry-go-round should harden up once the players have got back from their holidays - and million-pound weddings - so we will start to see who is really going where and how it will impact on the challenge for honours next term.

We all love to pick our best sides, so here's my ideal Man United XI for that Reading opener at Old Trafford.
Present squad and signings I would like to see are included. I don't want to see Gabriel Heinze go to Spain and I think Edwin van der Saar deserves another season. My prime signing of what I hope will be a few more is Spanish striker Fernando Torres - if the Glazers can be persuaded to cough up another £40 million, that is.
 
How about: Van der Saar; Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Heinze; Ronaldo, Carrick, Nani, Anderson; Rooney, Torres.