Revenge is a dish best served cold for former stars
Victory at Ewood Park could see the Red Devils hit the Premiership's top spot for the first time this season, yet three familiar faces will be out to ensure it does not happen.
While Keith Gillespie was largely an untapped talent when he quit the Red Devils, the remaining duo were pivotal figures in the club's greatest campaign.
Between them Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke struck 51 goals in United's magnificent 1998-99 treble season before falling foul of Ferguson's insatiable desire for success.
And though the United boss has no regrets about allowing the high-profile duo to depart within the last 12 months, he admits the decision is bound to have created a desire for revenge.
"There is bound to be an extra incentive for both of them," said Ferguson.
"People always want to do well against their former clubs particularly when it is Manchester United.
"Over the years there have been plenty of players who have come back and scored against us, going right back to Peter Davenport and Norman Whiteside.
The breakdown in communication was terminal and one senses there is little love lost between the pair.
Cole though was a different story, with Ferguson believing the former England striker was unable to accept life as anything other than a first choice.
"Andy always found it difficult to be a substitute, even when we were taking a long-term view and resting him," said the United chief.
"I couldn't see him and Ruud van Nistelrooy becoming a partnership and I was confident Ruud was going to develop into a top-class player. After that, the decision to let Andy leave was pretty straightforward.
"What you cannot take away though was that he gave us seven years fantastic service and the partnership he forged with Dwight in the treble season was the best in Europe at that time."
"They were terrific that season and I'm pleased to see them doing well now they have moved on."
Ferguson will have a fresh face on board for the short trip across Lancashire, with skipper Roy Keane back in the squad for the first time since August.
He has hardly played a match this season but still dominated the back pages for the early part of the campaign, having been hit with a record 235,000 fine and a five-match ban following comments made in his autobiography, which followed up his sensational summer World Cup walk-out.
Amid the furore, he was also sent-off in the third Premiership game of the season at Sunderland when he elbowed former international colleague Jason McAteer in the head as the 1-1 draw entered injury time.
Through it all, Ferguson has stood by a man he still believes is pivotal to his team although Keane will probably have to settle for a bench role after his reserve team outing against Newcastle last night.
"Roy did very well last night and will travel to Blackburn with us," said Ferguson.
"He eased himself into it during the first half, then increased his part in the game during the second. It was an excellent 90 minutes."
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have recovered from the minor injuries which kept them out of Tuesday's Worthington Cup win over Chelsea, placing a doubt over Diego Forlan and David Beckham keeping their place in the team.
Ferguson also confirmed that record signing Rio Ferdinand will return to training today and should be pushing for a place in the side to face Birmingham on December 28.
But the news on Nicky Butt's recovery from the ankle injury which has kept him out since October is not so clear. The England player had indicated that he could be fit for the Boxing Day trip to Middlesbrough but his manager is not so sure.
"Nicky is just a little bit behind Rio," he said.
"Some days he feels good, the next day he goes back a bit. It is a strange one but hopefully he is not too far away."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
