Sir Alex Ferguson expects David Beckham to be consigned to the AC Milan bench for his emotional Old Trafford return.
Beckham flew into Manchester this lunchtime to the usual overwhelming greeting, covered live on TV no less, with fans eager to get autographs and photographs of England's footballing icon. What Beckham really craves, though, is the chance to play at Old Trafford on Wednesday, and face his former club for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003.
Yet if it happens, Ferguson does not believe it will be from the kick-off. "I am finding it difficult to pick their team but I don't know whether Beckham will start," said Ferguson. "I have not got that down in my conclusions about their team."
He added: "He has not started a game since the first leg, so it is difficult to say what impact he will have on the game.
"But he will be there and the one thing you have to be aware of is his delivery of the ball, which is fantastic.
"That is the threat. There are a lot of threats in their team of course, but we are well aware of David's."
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has made a rapid recovery from the knee injury he aggravated on international duty last week and kept him out of Saturday's win at Wolves.
"It was a worry with Rooney," said Ferguson of his 28-goal front-man.
"Looking at him last Friday I didn't think he had any chance.
"But he has progressed and he plays and we are pleased at that because given his form at the moment I am sure that whatever match he went into he would be an absolute threat to anyone."
Source: PA
