10:40am Wednesday 10th March 2010
SIR Alex Ferguson expects David Beckham to be consigned to the AC Milan bench for his emotional Old Trafford return.
Beckham flew into Manchester yesterday 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 this evening, and face his former club at Old Trafford 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.
In trying to ignore what he feels is the circus that surrounds Beckham, his analysis of the Milan side aiming to become the first to beat United in a two-legged tie having lost the opening game on home soil does not include the former England skipper.
‘‘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 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.’’ Although he has made one, non-playing, visit for a charity match since his exit, Beckham’s last appearance at Old Trafford for a game involving United was a goalscoring contribution to a home win over Charlton in May 2003.
On this season’s evidence, Ferguson has a more obvious threat to deal with given Brazilian sensation Pato is likely to be fit after a hamstring strain.
Top scorer for Milan this term with 14, Pato’s ability to float around fellow countryman Ronaldinho, who nearly ended up replacing Beckham seven years ago, would appear the only way the seven-time winners are going to score the goals required to overhaul United’s 3-2 advantage.
However, United have a major weapon of their own to call upon now 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.’’
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