Beefed-up United switch their focus

SIR Alex Ferguson has promised to send a strong Manchester United team in search of victory at St Andrew’s tonight. With United out of Europe and nine points behind Chelsea in the Premiership, Ferguson must rely on the domestic cup competitions to avoid going two seasons without a trophy. With Bimingham manager and former Old Trafford defender Steve Bruce under increasing pressure after Saturday’s 4-1 Premiership mauling at Manchester City, Ferguson will offer him no respite when he fields a team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha, Darren Fletcher and 18-year-old goalscoring sensation Giuseppe Rossi. Club captain Gary Neville and England defender Rio Ferdinand may also be involved as Ferguson abandons his usual practice of using the competition to blood young players. Ferguson said:‘We’ll be bringing one or two of the younger players into the squad. But when I say the young players I’m not just talking about Rossi, Gerard Pique, Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson. I’m also talking about Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo — all the younger ones in the squad. ‘We will also probably play John O’Shea as well and possibly one of the centre backs — either Wes Brown or Rio Ferdinand. ‘Gary Neville may be included because he may feel he still needs games, having been out for four months. But I’m not sure about that one.’ Tonight’s appearance will be Ronaldo’s first start since his disastrous night in Lisbon when he was substituted during the 2-1 defeat against Benfica that put United out of the Champions League. Ronaldo has apologised for making an abusive gesture to Benfica fans during that game and has been warned by Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari that he must mature. Scolari said: ‘He is a young guy with a lot in front of him but he needs to mature a little more. I will speak to him and I am sure his team-mates will speak to him as well. They will probably say some things which mean he will spend some uncomfortable moments in the squad, but they will help him to mature. ‘He is going to pay the price for his inexperience at times but he has apologised through the media and that is important because it shows he knows he made a mistake.’

IAN LADYMAN