Becks set for United return

Stand-in skipper David Beckham is almost certain to return from suspension as Manchester United look to make amends for their derby-day debacle by defeating Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford tomorrow.

The Red Devils need a single point to ensure top spot in Group F but of more concern to manager Alex Ferguson will be to extract a positive response from his team to their Maine Road horror show which left the Scot fuming.

With Juan Sebastian Veron reserving his best form for Europe, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Phil Neville are the players most under threat from Beckham’s return, while John O’Shea is pushing for a starting berth in defence.

Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed both goals in United’s 2-1 win in Germany, since when last season’s beaten finalists have won three successive group games to join Ferguson’s team in cementing a last-16 berth.

Nicky Butt (ankle), Roy Keane (hip) and Wes Brown (ankle) remain on the injured list.

Provisional squad: Barthez, Ricardo, Carroll, G Neville, Blanc, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Silvestre, Beckham, P Neville, Scholes, Veron, Giggs, Fortune, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan, Richardson, Pugh, Nardiello.