Ferguson plans to field strong team in Super Cup
Updated: August 28, 2008, 11:00 AM UK
MONACO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Alex Ferguson is likely to use Friday's European Super Cup match against Zenit St Petersburg as the perfect opportunity to revitalise his Manchester United team after a tricky start to the season.
Zenit will be looking for another British scalp in the
traditional match between the winners of the previous season's
Champions League and UEFA Cup, which the Russian side clinched
with victory in the May final against Scotland's Rangers.
United have been hit by injuries, suspensions and Olympic
call-ups this month but Ferguson is hoping club skipper Gary
Neville, fit after a series of career-threatening injuries,
Nani, who has had a league suspension, and Brazil's Anderson,
just back from the Beijing Games, will play a part on Friday.
'I think we'll view the Super Cup as a one-off and we want
to win it obviously,' Ferguson said at a press briefing at
United's Carrington training ground before leaving for Monaco.
'But it is also an opportunity to play Anderson, back from
the Olympic Games, Nani who's available from suspension, and if
possible Gary Neville. I think those three will all figure in
Friday's game.
'Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney will also be involved. After
that it depends who's back from injury - if Owen Hargreaves has
maintained his training performances he will play. I think we'll
play a strong team but there'll certainly be some changes.'
United will, however, be without the injured Michael
Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo, not yet fit after surgery, and Ryan
Giggs who has a hamstring problem.
Anderson and Carlos Tevez, who missed United's disappointing
1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the opening league game of
the season because of a family bereavement, returned to the side
for Monday's 1-0 win at Portsmouth.
Ferguson will be hoping they also feature against the
Russian champions at the Stade Louis II.
Zenit, who scored some impressive victories on their way to
lifting the UEFA Cup, should have their latest acquisition,
Portugal midfielder Danni, available.
He joined Zenit for a Russian league record €30 million from Dynamo Moscow this week and is expected to
play against United.
'Danni looked good in training and he'll get a chance
against Manchester United provided that all the paper work is
done on time,' Zenit coach Dick Advocaat told reporters.
Unsettled playmaker Andrei Arshavin, who could still move
abroad following his fine showing at Euro 2008, is also included
in the squad.
'Arshavin is flying with us to Monaco but I haven't decided
yet if he would play or not,' said Advocaat, mindful of the fact
that the summer transfer window is closing shortly.
Arshavin, who has been strongly linked with a move to
Tottenham Hotspur in England for the last two months, missed
Zenit's last league match on Sunday.
Zenit won 3-0 at Krylya Sovietov Samara to move back into
title contention. They trail league leaders Rubin Kazan by 11
points with 11 matches left.
Manchester United 1 - 2 Zenit St Petersburg