United will have a tough test in their campaign to retain the Premier League crown when they are playing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow afternoon(Sunday 21st September 2009,Kick Off: 14:00). Sir Alex Ferguson will have Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo in United’s squad to play against Chelsea on Sunday. This will be a big boost for Red Devils who were struggling to score goals during last term.
Berbatov missed Wednesday UEFA Champions League draw with Villarreal after suffering a knee injury in Liverpool last weekend, while Cristiano Ronaldo made his return in midweek after two months following ankle operation.
However, Ferguson has confirmed Berbatov is fit again and is also the question of whether Ronaldo is going to start the game or stay on the bench till the second half.
Ferguson side will miss suspended defender Nemanja Vidic. Vidic is likely to be replaced by Wes Brown or Jonny Evans who was in top form against Villarreal. England goalkeeper Ben Foster is going to be out of action from six to eight weeks with ankle ligament damage sustained in a reserve team game against Blackburn on Thursday night.
Paul Scholes will be back in the starting line-up meaning Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-sung and Nani could find themselves on the bench.
Ferguson hopes Rooney and Tevez can secure the game in the first half. Tevez is showing good form this season, while Rooney was only a shadow of the player who played with England against Croatia.
Man United could only win in one game in their last five:
17 Aug v Newcastle (H) D 1-1 (EPL)
25 Aug v Portsmouth (A) W1-0 (EPL)
29 Aug v Zenit St Petersburg (N) L 1-2 (SC)
13 Sep v Liverpool (A) L 1-2 (EPL)
17 Sep v Villarreal (H) D 0-0 (CL)
Starting XI: Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra; Fletcher (or Ronaldo) Hargreaves, Scholes, Nani; Rooney (or Berbatov); Tevez.
Can United pass Chelsea Test?
