Ricardo on standby for debut

Spanish international keeper Ricardo is standing by to make his Manchester United debut at Old Trafford tomorrow amid further fitness concerns over Fabien Barthez.

Ricardo has had just one reserve appearance since his £1.5m (€2.4m) move from Real Valladolid but Barthez is equally short on match practice, having made his season bow against Middlesbrough last week after struggling to get over a hip complaint.

Paul Scholes, controversially omitted from the England squad, faces a late test on his ankle injury, while stand-in captain David Beckham is also a slight doubt after suffering a bang on his calf against Boro which also ruled him out of international duty.

Controversial skipper Roy Keane continues his recovery from a hip operation while long-term absentees Gary Neville (foot), Wes Brown (ankle) and Quinton Fortune (knee ligaments) are definitely out.

Man Utd (provisional): Barthez, Ricardo, Carroll, P Neville, Silvestre, Blanc, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Tierney, Roche, Beckham, Butt, Veron, Scholes, Giggs, Stewart, Pugh, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan.