Wayne Rooney’s penalty against San Marino, a team who boast just a single victory from 129 matches, was hardly the most auspicious manner in which to make history – a fact that most observers have used to discredit the 29-year-old’s accomplishment.

Nobody could ever accuse the people of Manchester of being apathetic towards the Beautiful Game, and the success of the September 1-10 Manchester Football Writing Festival has once again reaffirmed the city’s passion for debate.

Gary Caldwell’s Wigan Athletic travel to the Proact Stadium on Saturday (3pm) in a bid to earn their first points away from home this season.

Rochdale make the short trip to Fleetwood’s Highbury stadium on Saturday with a fully fit and refreshed squad after not having a midweek game for the first time this season.

The link between non-league football and the current Syrian refugee crisis may not be immediately obvious, but then FC United of Manchester have never been a football club that unthinkingly conforms to the norm.

MM takes an in-depth look into where the money went this summer transfer window for both Manchester United and Manchester City, and what fans from both teams can now expect from the year to come.

Speaking at the National Football Museum in Manchester, multiple Guinness World Records holder and widely-regarded world’s best freestyler John Farnworth from Preston believes its unique nature and wide appeal could see it break into sport’s highest echelons.

Proudly sporting his club colours, a confident Freddie Hughes then stepped up to the line one metre from the Football Flick unit and smashed the record with 34 before facing a long and agonising wait with his dad to see if anyone could better his attempt.

After enduring a frustrating afternoon against Newcastle United on Saturday, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has reiterated that there is no urgent need for attacking reinforcements.

After a ragged start to the season, the jury is out on Wayne Rooney’s capabilities to spearhead Manchester United’s attack but with 18 goals in 30 games against Saturday opponents Newcastle, he will be confident of overcoming his drought to silence the critics once again.

Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna says the Chelsea result is a thing of the past and with Argentine Nicolas Otamendi now in their ranks nothing less than three points against Everton on Sunday will do.