TEAM NEWS, QUOTES AND ALL THAT

Last updated : 21 September 2003 By Editor

According to teletext Campbell is out.

Line-ups from Sky Sports

Skipper Roy Keane is set to return from an ankle injury for Sunday's crucial Barclaycard Premiership showdown with Arsenal, live on Sky Sports.

Phil Neville, Quinton Fortune and John O'Shea know their places are most at risk from Keane's return.

United (from): Howard, Carroll, G Neville, P Neville, Silvestre, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Fortune, Butt, Solskjaer, Ronaldo, Keane, Djemba-Djemba, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Forlan, Fletcher, Richardson.

Keown is likely to partner Kolo Toure in the centre of defence, despite the young Ivory Coast international's inexperience in the position being exposed by Inter in midweek.

Wenger must decide whether to shuffle his pack elsewhere or give the side humbled at Highbury a chance to redeem themselves.

Dennis Bergkamp is in contention for a starting spot in attack, while Ray Parlour could replace Gilberto Silva in midfiled following a series of poor displays from the Brazilian.

Bummers (from): Lehmann, Stack, Lauren, Cole, Toure, Campbell, Keown, Cygan, Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Edu, Parlour, Pires, Ljungberg, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu, Aliadiere

The ref is Steve Bennett


RVN:

"Thierry Henry is one of the best, not just in England, not just in Europe, but in the whole world.

"People compare us as strikers and goalscorers but we are very different in our approach to the game.

"Thierry has speed, vision and technique. Everyone knows about his pace and it's something we have to be aware of tomorrow.

"We have handled him well over the past few games but he is a great player and we will have to be at our very best to stop him again."

Fergie keen on Keane:

"Keane and Vieira, they are both very good players.

"In terms of influence on the game, I’d agree they are the two best players in the world in their position. Roy respects Vieira, and I think that helps him.

"And I've read Vieira saying how much he looks forward to playing against Keane. These are the challenges the big players want."

SAF issued a warning that Keano would have to get used to taking a rest every now and again:

"I'll have to rest him a lot. The important thing is to have him when it really matters. If I can't do that, there's something wrong with my squad.

"Roy was exactly the same when we played Tottenham in the last game of the season in 1999. He wasn't 100%, but it didn't stop him from playing and he'll be alright on Sunday.

"It isn't a matter of him taking it, he'll just have to accept it. There isn't going to be a halfway house where I'm going to have to go to Roy and get him to pass the verdict whether he's playing, I'm going to make the decision because it's going to be for his benefit.

"If I can get him playing in the important games in May, then we'll know we were right."

SAF wants OGS to play but would be happy with Ronaldo:

"I wouldn't be afraid to play Ronaldo. I think the boy has shown his courage and his ability and he has shown he has got the temperament for the occasions.

"I'm hoping that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is fit because he does well against Arsenal but I have mixed feelings about it at the moment and will wait to see how things go in terms of injuries.

"We have a few bumps and bruises about the place. I was lucky that we got to 4-0 on Tuesday so I was able to take John O'Shea, Solskjaer and Nicky Butt off because they were carrying injuries.

"If they had gone 90 minutes, they would not have played on Sunday so we had that luxury of taking them off and hopefully that will make a difference."

Fergie says the game is 'significant':

"It's always a significant game because three points are three points and it could make a difference at the end of the season.

"Being so early it is not looked upon that way and you can only measure that at the end of the season.

"The league will not be won on Sunday, nor will it be lost. Nobody will be getting medals or cups or anything like that but at the end of the season either club might look back and say 'that cost us'. We lost at Southampton in the last minute and we might look back and say that point was an important one.

"Over the years, when we have lost the league we have looked at certain games where we have lost games or dropped points, but in this league you drop points. Every team has a blip and you just have to make sure you don't get as big a blip as the rest."

Howard:

"Thierry Henry is the kind of player who can give you sleepless nights. You have to worry about it, but not enough to let it throw you off your game.

"If you think ahead too much, you start over-analysing things.

"When Manchester United play Arsenal, the pace of the game is incredible - the tackles are flying and you have got to be up for it.

"I am, because I know that I am one minute away from losing my place."

Vieira:

"It will not be the end of the world if we lose to United, but we will be going there to win the game. That's what we do every game we play, we always want to win.

"Last year when we were in a difficult period we showed how good we are, and how strong we are. And I think the game against Manchester United is the perfect opportunity for us to show everybody how strong we are again.

"We are really happy to be playing United because we want to show that Inter Milan was just one game that we lost and that in our minds we are strong enough to respond. This game is between the two best teams in this country, and of course, whoever wins will take a psychological advantage. But we will be ready for it, don't doubt it.

"It will be good to get the critics off our back and sleep properly again!"

You know who:

"I think the players are still disappointed and down, but we have two days to prepare and this is a chance to bounce back and show our mental strength.

"When you go into a season, you know that you will have these kind of disappointments. Any club will. It is how you respond to them that will decide the season.

"If we lose to Manchester United, then you can really slaughter us even more! People will say 'the season is over, go home'. But there will still be 32 games to play and we are in a marathon. Don't forget that.

"The defeat in midweek would have been more terrible if it was a direct knockout. The season has only just started and this is a good fixture to have now.

"It will have a psychological impact on the season and will be a guide of where we stand. We are top of the league and this is a good opportunity to bounce back to the level we want to be at."

Wenger, referring to Campbell's bereavement:

"You have to leave these decisions to the players. It can be a kind of therapy if he plays. You can get away and concentrate on something else. It is how everybody feels in that situation that dictates the attitude.

"But it will be left to Sol. We will respect whatever he decides to do at such a terrible time for him."