Sir Alex Ferguson never doubted the ability that cost Manchester United £12.8m plus a fortune in medical bills but must have suspected a Premier League talent had gone for good when cutting his losses with Louis Saha. It illustrates the Frenchman's rehabilitation that, 15 months on, he is giving Everton more concern over a new contract than his willingness to commit a fragile frame to the cause. Maybe, just maybe, he still has it in him to unearth in Ferguson a rare ounce of regret.
Saha has faced United twice since agreeing a pay-as-you-play deal with David Moyes in August 2008 but tonight marks his first appearance at Old Trafford since Ferguson accepted enough was enough. He will return as the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the division, only Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Darren Bent have scored more, and savouring his most prolific start to a Premier League campaign. The fitness problems that plagued his four-and-a-half years at United have not gone away; he is carrying a calf injury and spent five days during the international break at a private clinic in France for further treatment. But he is willing, able and in demand to play. That is a transformation in itself.
"We took a gamble on Louis, undoubtedly," admitted the Everton manager. "He had been injury-prone but we had a situation where we had to take a gamble because we didn't have any money to buy a centre-forward. Louis at that time was available and it was a risk, not because of his ability but because of his injuries. We had to decide whether it was an on-going problem at this stage of his career and Louis convinced me that it wasn't and he's gone on to prove that. He's a highly-strung athlete who wants to be at his best, wants to feel his best and because of that sometimes he doesn't quite make it for games but he's been very good for us."
Saha has been among the most consistent performers in an Everton team that, once again, began the season with the strength and balance of a new-born foal. The 31-year-old has nine goals from 14 games in all competitions and has enjoyed a clean bill of health in comparison to many in Moyes' squad. That productive combination has attracted interest from outside, with Besiktas linked, and Everton intend to open discussions on an extension – Saha signed a two-year contract with the option of a third – in the new year. "I don't think we are ready to discuss that at the moment" is Moyes' take on the contract situation.
The Everton manager was less circumspect on the talent at his disposal, however. "I don't think he's got anything to prove to United. I think everybody at Manchester United would probably admit that Louis Saha was a match for any player there with the talent and ability he's got. I'm still relatively young but he's certainly in the top two maybe three players I've worked with. He's got some unbelievable ability as a football player, incredible."
Moyes dismissed out of hand the suggestion that United allowed Saha to leave too quickly and the Old Trafford fanzine writers who christened the striker Balsa Man can vouch for Ferguson's patience. Saha started only 52 league games for United and, had he stayed fit, he would still be at a club that is trying to replace the goals lost when Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid.
Ferguson admitted yesterday: "He is more consistently free of injury than he had been at Manchester United. We would not have sold him had he been a regular performer for us. Unfortunately, for Louis and for us, he was always injured. It happens that way sometimes. I remember we took Viv Anderson from Arsenal. I looked at his playing record and he hadn't missed a game in four years, other than through suspension, but he was never fit at United. Then he left to go to Sheffield Wednesday at the tail-end of his career and he played for two-and-a-half years without injury. Sod's law."
Moyes is yet to win at Old Trafford as Everton manager and tonight's encounter, while an opportunity for Saha to remind his former employers of his prowess, allows Ferguson a first-hand sight of Jack Rodwell, the 18-year-old midfielder he has admired since before he broke into the first team at Goodison Park. It is an added headache for the Everton manager, although he is livid at reports the club have received a bid for the England hopeful from Chelsea.
"We have had nothing, no calls, no inquiries, and there is certainly not a bid on the table. You can check my phones, you can come and sit at my desk and have a look, and there has been nothing," Moyes said. "He has a five-year contract and he's very level-headed. There's no point in me turning round and saying he's not for sale, because we said that with [Joleon] Lescott and had to sell in the end. But what I can tell you is – 100% – we have had nothing. I don't doubt he is on other teams' radars but he's on ours and we have had nothing and that's the end of the matter."
