Fortune nets for South Africa on Sunday (Allsport).
FORTUNE: I WANT TO STAY AT UNITED
By David Anderson, PA Sport, in Busan
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Quinton Fortune wants to sign a new contract with Manchester United - even
though he has been unable to hold down a regular starting place during his three
years at Old Trafford.
The South African international has made just 24 league appearances for United
since joining them from Atletico Madrid in a £1.5million move in August 1999.
Fortune has played more football for United's reserves at Bury's Gigg Lane
than he has for the first team at Old Trafford.
United were prepared to sell him last summer for around £3million and Bolton
were said to be interested only for the deal to break down.
Despite all this, the midfielder claims he wants to remain at United when his
current deal expires in 12 months' time.
Fortune, 25, has faith in his ability and he still believes he can establish
himself in the first team.
"I definitely think I can make the breakthrough. I've got one year left on my
contract and I want to stay for longer than that," he said. "I would
definitely be happy to stay.
"If you look at the midfield players at United it's not easy, but I'm not
going to complain about it.
"I believe if I keep working hard the gaffer will always be fair to me
because he's very honest."
Fortune's stoppage-time penalty against Paraguay, which salvaged a point for
South Africa in their opening World Cup Group B game, has given a welcome boost
to his popularity in his homeland.
Fortune has had to endure much criticism about his displays for his country,
like many of the European-based players, while his missed penalty against
Burkina Faso during South Africa's disappointing African Nations Cup campaign in
Mali earlier this year did not help.
Fortune admits it is hard playing international football when he is not a
regular at United, although he claims he is getting sharper with each game.
"My match fitness is not as good as the other guys, but every game I play I
gain fitness so I'm improving all the time," he said.
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