Source: SKY_Sports
Boro chief denies legal threat
Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb has rubbished claims the club could sue Manchester United if they field a weakened team at Hull City.
A report on Wednesday morning claimed the Teessiders had held talks with North-East rivals Newcastle and Sunderland ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures, which could see two of them relegated.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated he will rest his key players at the KC Stadium ahead of next Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final clash with Barcelona.
Victory for Hull would send Boro down whatever they do at West Ham, and either Newcastle or Sunderland could join them if they lose to Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.
However, Lamb has moved to dismiss the speculation that they could take legal action against the newly-crowned champions if they play a second-string side against Hull.
"Manchester United will pick their team, no one else," Lamb told the club's official website.
"There have been no talks between Middlesbrough and any other club about what side Manchester United may field on Sunday."
Sunderland and Newcastle have also insisted there is no truth in the claims, with Black Cats boss Ricky Sbragia confident that whatever side Ferguson selects, United will set out to win the game.
Hopeful Boro assistant boss, Malcolm Crosby has echoed those sentiments, believing United will do their best to win at Hull whatever the changes in personnel.
"Sir Alex is entitled to put out whatever team he likes because he is the manager of Manchester United," said Crosby.
"He knows he has a massive game ahead in the Champions League, so we cannot complain if they put a weaker team out.
"In saying that, weaker Manchester United teams are not too bad!
"He wants to win, I'm sure his players are the same. The young players they have got are tremendous players and there's nothing to say they can't go there and beat Hull."
