Fulham manager Chris Coleman:
"He's [Saha] a tremendous player with a great attitude. I won't have to tell my players how good he is. He'll relish that Ruud has moved on and can get a better run of games."
"We were in Germany when they [Rooney/Scholes] got sent off and when we heard the news our minds were racing because at the time Rio Ferdinand wasn't fit.
"I thought it was too good to be true and I was right. It's a strange situation. The season starts at the weekend and it's strange they will play the first game but miss the next three."
O'Pie:
"I think it will be an open game."
"Fulham have good attacking players, so they will be looking to utilise them.
"They will also be looking to improve their away form and I would imagine Chris Coleman spent a lot of time in pre-season trying to address that.
"Maybe they will become a bit more defensive-minded but somehow I doubt it, our matches against them are very open."
More from O'Shea:
* Nine points is the aim for the three games going into the international break."
"That would put a big statement out on our behalf.
"It is a big challenge because we are missing some players, but we cannot be looking for excuses like that.
"We will be without players through injury and suspension all season. All it does is give someone else an opportunity. That is why the manager has built such a strong squad."
Zat Knight:
"Louis is a great lad and we're great friends, but I have no intention of giving him any helping hand this season.
"I will probably text him tongue in cheek beforehand and ask him to take it easy on us, but he won't be getting any favours from me.
"You can't afford to be sentimental, there's no room for it in this game."
Giggs:
"Ideally, we would have wanted everyone available, because we start the season with three games in six days.
"We really can't afford to pick up any more injuries because we need to get off to a good start and keep it going through the season.
"This is a big season for us because while winning the League Cup last year did make it a successful season, it is the league that we all really want to win.
"It doesn't matter how many times you win the league, you never want to lose that sense of achievement.
"Chelsea and Arsenal have both raised the bar in terms of what it takes to win the title.
"What we have to do this season is go with them. We have to find that level of consistency that champions need."
BBC:
Wayne Rooney has shaken off a groin problem and will lead the Manchester United line alongside Louis Saha.
Defensive duo Nemanja Vidic and Gabriel Heinze are out with knee injuries while £18.6m summer capture Michael Carrick is still nursing his ankle injury.
Fulham midfield duo Claus Jensen and Simon Elliott are both carrying calf injuries and will miss the trip north.
Dane Jensen is nearing a return to first-team action, but New Zealander Elliott is two weeks off a comeback.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Ronaldo, Park Ji-Sung, Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney, Rossi, Evans, Evra, Richardson, Fletcher.
Fulham (from): Niemi, Crossley, Drobny, Queudrue, Rosenior, Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Pearce, Christanval, Zakuani, Brown, Boa Morte, Diop, Bullard, Timlin, Pembridge, Elrich, Helguson, McBride, John, Radzinski, Runstrom.
Weather:
Hard to believe at 8:30am but the BBC predict that it will be dry and with sunny spells by kick-off time. 16°C.