THE YOUNG ONES

Last updated : 07 December 2004 By editor

Ruud is definitely not playing. Fergie said, "Ruud has this injury at the bottom of his calf and it is proving troublesome. We felt we had to leave him out against Southampton and Fenerbahce to try and get him back 100% for the Fulham game."

Fergie is also ready to rest a few more first team players:

"We'll rest a few of Saturday's team. The boys who played in the Carling Cup against Arsenal on Wednesday will get a chance.

"I have been analysing the Champions League and we would love to be top of the group, don't get me wrong, but I don't know if first or second actually matters this time. I am looking at it and if we are first who are we going to get, and if we are second who are we going to get?

"If we finish top of our group then we could get either Barcelona or Real Madrid. Both of them are likely to be second in their groups. AC Milan only need a draw in their last game against Celtic to win the group. So if Milan draw they are first and if we are second we could get them, but if we are first we could get Barcelona!

"I think Real Madrid are certain to be second so they are in the mix if we finish top. If you are second you look at the teams who have topped their sections or are likely to. Then you are looking at Juventus, AC Milan, PSV possibly, Olympiakos, Inter Milan and Dinamo Kiev.

"But finish top ourselves and we can still end up with Real, Bayern Munich or Barcelona, for instance. It is six of one and half a dozen of the other. That's what you get when you get the best teams in the cup. It is a fantastic tournament."

Darren Fletcher sees it as an opportunity:

"We are looking for a good performance from a young team. Our aim is to top the group but overall we feel confident we can win the entire competition. We have performed well in Europe this season and while there are obviously some quality sides in there we have to back ourselves.

"It is important for our own professional pride to try and win tomorrow but we won't know whether finishing first or second is an advantage until we get the draw. The main thing is the players on this trip show their potential and prove they are worthy of playing for Manchester United."

Team (from): Howard, Ricardo, P Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Fortune, Spector, Pique, McShane, Picken, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Richardson, Ronaldo, Jones, Eagles, Poole, Bellion, Ebanks-Blake.