Fletcher

Fletcher returns to face CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford knowing victory will ease United into the Champions League knock-out phase with two games to spare, allowing Ferguson to concentrate fully on the Premier League campaign, starting with Sunday's trip to Chelsea.

Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs have already been ruled out, while there are also doubts over Dimitar Berbatov, who suffered a bang on his knee-cap against Blackburn on Saturday, and Wayne Rooney, who is celebrating the birth of his son Kai Wayne.

Another man who will definitely miss out is Rio Ferdinand, who was the victim of a stinging attack from former England coach Graham Taylor on Saturday. Taylor put his neck on the line by stating Ferdinand's best years were behind him and he would no longer be a force for his country and might struggle to maintain his form for Manchester United.

Ferguson disagrees totally. "In my time here we have always had one of our star players finding he gets criticised when he has a little blip," he said. "It seems to be part and parcel of being a player at Manchester United. We are all aware of that.

"No player likes to be criticised. We all like to be loved and want arms around our shoulders at times. But he will come out of it, there is no question about that. There is no discernible depreciation in his qualities. None at all."