Fergie hoping Keane can see out remainder of his contract

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson doesn't expect Roy Keane's international retirement to prolong his career but at least the Corkman should now see out the remainder of his four-year Old Trafford contract.

Keane announced this week that he was turning his back on a Republic return on medical advice, angering new Ireland chief Brian Kerr, who thought the 31-year-old would make himself available again after his summer World Cup walkout.

Old Trafford officials moved quickly in a doomed bid to absolve Ferguson of any blame for the decision, insisting the long-standing hip problem which required surgery at the start of the season had threatened Keane's entire career.

"I don't think this decision will extend Roy's career," said Ferguson. "That's not the way we were looking at it.

"We just want to make sure he sees out his contract.

"He needs to get proper preparation for games and we have done a lot of stretching exercises with him this week so he will be ready for tomorrow's game."

Ryan Giggs is a major doubt today having returned early from Welsh international duty with a calf injury. England's Paul Scholes is believed to have aggravated his groin in midweek, while Juan Sebastian Veron has returned from Argentina's trip to Holland with a toe injury which an X-ray has revealed is not broken as was first feared.

Having informed Dutch boss Dick Advocaat that star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy should play only 45 minutes in Amsterdam, the United chief vented his frustration at Veron playing on into the second half, particularly as it now transpires the £28.1 million former Lazio star had already suffered the damage. "It was a problem for me that Juan played so long, plus he got a toe injury," admitted the United boss.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is almost certain to be called into the side should Giggs fail to make it, while goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is expected to be included after missing the last two games with the hip and thigh muscle injuries he picked up at Southampton.

Nicky Butt and Phil Neville are also hoping to return, the latter highlighted as the key man in United's 2-0 Premiership triumph over Arsene Wenger's men in December.

"Phil's had a great season for us," said Ferguson.

"Every time I've asked him to do a job for us he's done well, no matter what the position has been.

"That won't change tomorrow and if I think he's the right man for the job. I won't hesitate to pick him."

With both sides due to resume their Champions League campaigns next week, the loser will actually have the benefit of a less congested campaign as the season enters its most cramped phase.That could be seen as an advantage in the title race, although Ferguson prefers to look at the psychological damage victory might inflict."There could be a psychological advantage for the league if we win tomorrow," he said.

"Winning games of football is good for you, particularly when you're playing against your nearest opponent."

His Highbury nemesis, Arsene Wenger would appear to be debating whether to take a calculated gamble at Old Trafford today by resting a handful of internationals.

The Arsenal boss has already revealed that he will not select Gilberto Silva as he returned exhausted from Brazil's controversial midweek friendly in China, while Fredrik Ljungberg is still not available.

However, he has also been weighing up the sharpness of his France and England internationals, who are in the middle of a run of four high-profile games in just 10 days. "I will do what I feel is right to get everybody sharp and to try to win the game. They are all good players so it's difficult to choose," declared Wenger.

"If I gave someone first choice of my players in training, then the other team would still have a good chance of winning."

Even with a Champions League tie at home to Ajax on Tuesday night, the Arsenal boss would still be reluctant to rest players of the importance of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira or Sol Campbell.

But others, such as Sylvain Wiltord, Robert Pires or Ashley Cole, could always be replaced at Old Trafford by the likes of Ray Parlour, Edu or Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Wenger has not yet made a final decision on his selection but, as he has shown in previous rounds against lower league opposition, he believes in the strength in depth of his squad. Whichever side prevails in the fifth round tie should certainly receive a significant psychological boost for their campaigns at home and abroad.

"We want to win as it will strengthen our confidence and self belief. We want to win every competition we are in," insisted Wenger. "Manchester United playing Arsenal always has a big meaning and it's a big game for us."