Howard handed chance to impress

Tim Howard will be given the chance to press his claims for a long-term return to the Manchester United side when he turns out against Exeter at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Roy Carroll’s place is under threat following his error against Tottenham on Tuesday and Howard, who was always pencilled in for tomorrow’s encounter and the midweek Carling Cup clash with Chelsea, now has an extra incentive to do well.

A number of senior first-team men are likely to be rested for United’s first meeting with non-league opposition for 40 years.

But Wes Brown has recovered from his Achilles problem and should play.

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that he only expects Ryan Giggs to miss two weeks of the campaign with a hamstring injury that forced him out of the 0-0 draw against Spurs.

Squad (from): Howard, Ricardo, Carroll, P Neville, G Neville, Brown, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Spector, Heinze, Fletcher, Keane, Scholes, Miller, Djemba-Djemba, Eagles, Jones, Ronaldo, Richardson, Bellion, Smith.