Jermaine Jenas, Alan Shearer, Laurent Robert and Andy O’Brien returned from Switzerland with minor injuries and, although they are all expected to play, decisions on their availability won’t be taken until just before the game.
Lee Bowyer is available again after missing the trip to FC Basel through suspension, and there is an outside chance that Kieron Dyer will make his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Jonathan Woodgate and Craig Bellamy definitely miss out.
Chelsea will be without Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit, Celestine Babayaro and Mario Stanic, which with the exception of Desailly is a shame.
Squads
United: Given, Harper, Hughes, Bernard, Griffin, Bramble, O'Brien, S Caldwell, Dabizas, Speed, Solano, Robert, Jenas, Dyer, Bowyer, Viana, Ambrose, Shearer, Ameobi, LuaLua, Chopra.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Ambrosetti, Melchiot, Johnson, Bridge, Terry, Gallas, Huth, Makelele, Lampard, Veron, Geremi, Cole, Crespo, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen, Mutu.