Champions League: Solskjaer gets the nod

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer received the sort of 29th birthday present he wanted when he makes only his second Champions League start of the season against Nantes at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer got the nod up front alongside goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy as Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson surprisingly ditched his 4-4-1-1 formation for Europe.

Ferguson was determined to go for the win, which would move United ever closer to a place in the quarter-finals for the sixth successive year.

Ryan Giggs replaced Nicky Butt in the only change from Saturday, while Paul Scholes’ chest infection meant he started on the bench.

Nantes, whose sporting director Robert Budzynski had blasted United over van Nistelrooy’s spat with Sylvain Armand, went with five at the back.

The ailing French champions, who have just one point, made five changes from last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw and Pierre-Yves Andre played as a lone striker.