Neville back to plug leaks

Gary Neville is set to add some defensive steel to the Manchester United line-up for the FA Cup derby clash at Old Trafford.

Neville missed Wednesday’s shock home defeat by Middlesbrough with a slight thigh strain but will return to an under-fire rearguard that has conceded eight goals in the last three Barclaycard Premiership matches.

Alex Ferguson has reported a clean bill of health, so skipper Roy Keane should also return against Manchester City, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has an outside chance of being on the bench. Louis Saha is cup-tied.

Provisional squad: Howard, Carroll, G Neville, Silvestre, Brown, O’Shea, Fortune, P Neville, Forlan, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Butt, Keane, Solskjaer, Kleberson, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Bellion.