Barthez worry for Ferguson

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is Manchester United’s main doubt for tomorrow’s FA Cup third round tie against Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Barthez has been undergoing treatment since injuring a thigh muscle during Wednesday’s win over Sunderland and if the Frenchman fails to win his fitness battle Alex Ferguson is likely to turn to Roy Carroll ahead of regular stand-in keeper Ricardo, who has been on the bench for most of the season.

United also hope to have leading scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy back after two games out with an infected toe. Ferguson will check on his fitness after training today and if the Dutchman is fit Diego Forlan is set to return to the bench.

Provisional squad: Carroll, O’Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Beckham, Veron, Keane, Scholes, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan, G Neville, P Neville, Giggs, Richardson, Ricardo.