Howard to lose place despite Fergie defence

ALEX FERGUSON has once again backed Tim Howard over the goal that cost Manchester United a place in the Carling cup final. But his words may not be enough to earn the American an FA Cup starting slot against Middlesbrough today.

While most pundits blamed the keeper for allowing Damien Duff’s freekick to bounce in against Chelsea on Wednesday, Ferguson’s reaction was to point the finger at his defence.

After analysing the game on video, Ferguson is sticking to his initial view and claimed Howard was blameless for defeat in a much-hyped contest he felt his team were controlling.

“It was not Tim,” said Ferguson. “There is no doubt it was the defenders’ fault. The players know. They can hold their hands up quite easily because they know it was their fault.

“You can sit up all night analysing games like that. Sometimes you watch the whole thing through again and analyse it even more the following day.

“The result is there now but the thing that bothers me is we had the game by the throat and then got kicked in the teeth by a 45-yard free-kick.”

Despite his exoneration of Howard, the indications are Roy Carroll will return to face Middlesbrough at Old Trafford as the holders look to progress into the last 16, one of two or three changes from Wednesday’s starting line-up.

With Alan Smith’s injured ankle unlikely to be risked ahead of next week’s Premiership tie with Arsenal, Wayne Rooney is set to return, possibly at the expense of Ryan Giggs, who may also be rested for the Highbury trip. Phil Neville is also pushing for a recall after sitting out the last two games and after his recent run at right-back, may fill his preferred central midfield slot as Roy Keane misses out through suspension.

Ferguson has insisted he would have no worries about throwing Ruud van Nistelrooy straight into Manchester United’s Champions League clash with AC Milan. The striker is at home in Holland recovering from the Achilles injury that has ruled him out since the end of November.

Ferguson has insisted the 28-year-old’s recuperation is going well and has earmarked Milan’s Old Trafford visit on February 23 as a return date.

The United boss acknowledges throwing most players into such a confrontation after so long on the sidelines would be a major risk but given van Nistelrooy’s phenomenal European record of 36 goals in 37 appearances for the Red Devils it is understandable why he would want the Dutchman in his side.