Reds wait for it to come out on video

MANCHESTER UNITED have demanded to see the videos from Sunday’s Old Trafford fracas to see if Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo have a case to answer.

Club officials are known to be unhappy at two of their players being hauled before the Football Association for their part in the ugly scenes which followed United's 0-0 draw with Arsenal.

United believe they were the innocent victims of the Gunners' behaviour, which has left six of their players and the entire Highbury club facing sanctions and manager Arsene Wenger being asked to explain his post-match comments about Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Yesterday, Alex Ferguson refused to enter into discussion over the incident, which Wenger believes has been blown out of proportion by the media, other than to confirm his club expect to receive official video footage of the skirmish on Monday, after which they can decide their next course of action.

"We have received the charges, now we are waiting for the video, which is due to arrive early next week," said the United boss.

"Until we see all the videos and see what substance there is to the charges, there is nothing more to say."

Both Giggs and Ronaldo have been charged with improper conduct and are facing a one-match ban at the most, compared to the possibility of a 20-game suspension which could be landed on the Arsenal camp.

However, United clearly do not believe they should be hit with any punishment.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has backed Van Nistelrooy to smash home his next penalty chance.

It was the Dutchman's last-gasp spot-kick failure his third on the trot after 18 onverted efforts which released all the pent-up emotion from the Arsenal players, convinced the striker's reaction had played a major part in getting Patrick Vieira sent off 10 minutes from the end of what had been a robust but peaceful encounter.

However, that unhappy experience will not stop the former PSV Eindhoven man stepping up next time United are awarded a spot-kick, even if it comes against Leicester at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer out for three months following knee surgery, Paul Scholes' return could not have been timed any better.

The midfielder has come through a week of intensive training and is almost certain to be restored to the United line-up tomorrow as they look to maintain the pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premiership.

Scholes' return could see Ronaldo drop to the bench, although there is also a possibility that the Portuguese teenager could switch to left midfield with Quinton Fortune dropping to full-back in place of John O'Shea.

Either way, Ferguson is predicting a another difficult afternoon as United visit Leicester's new home for the first time.