Premiership: Big guns back for United

David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron are all likely to start for Manchester United tomorrow night when they face Derby County in the Barclaycard Premiership at Old Trafford.

Alex Ferguson faced a barrage of criticism after resting Veron and van Nistelrooy as United lost to West Ham on Saturday and seems certain to recall his stars as he tries to halt a slide down the Barclaycard Premiership table.

Central defender Laurent Blanc is also standing by to return after missing Saturday’s game because of a broken nose.

If he is cleared to play Ferguson may decide to leave 20-year-old John O’Shea in the side to partner the French veteran with emergency centre-back Gary Neville competing for his brother Phil’s place on the right.

The return of van Nistelrooy and Veron is likely to see Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning to the bench, with Luke Chadwick making way for England captain Beckham who has started the last two games as a substitute.

Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown and Ronny Johnsen are still sidelined through injury.

Team (from): Barthez, G Neville, Veron, Blanc, Beckham, Butt, Cole, van Nistelrooy, P Neville, Chadwick, Keane, Scholes, Yorke, Solskjaer, Silvestre, Fortune, Wallwork, Carroll.