Keane to start for United

Alex Ferguson’s search for goals saw him leave Wayne Rooney out of his starting line-up for the Old Trafford derby-day clash with Kevin Keegan’s City.

With Ruud van Nistelrooy suspended, Rooney was expected to spearhead a United attack which has scored just 11 times in 11 league outings so far this season.

Instead, the England wonderkid found himself on the bench as Louis Saha and Alan Smith were paired up front.

Rooney was in good company, as Ryan Giggs was also among the substitutes as Liam Miller was handed a right-sided midfield slot, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to move to the left.

As expected, with his team shorn of five senior players, Keegan stuck with the side which started Monday’s home draw with Norwich, charging them with the task of recording the Blues’ first Old Trafford win since Denis Law back-heeled United into the old Second Division back in 1974.

Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Miller, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Saha, Smith.

Subs: Howard, Phil Neville, Brown, Rooney, Giggs.

Man City: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Flood, Bosvelt, McManaman, Sibierski, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Anelka.

Subs: Fowler, Onuoha, Waterreus, McCarthy, Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)