Smith a doubt for United

Alan Smith remains a doubt for Manchester United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Middlesbrough at Old Trafford tomorrow.

The former Leeds striker had been expected to recover from his ankle injury in time to face Chelsea in midweek but failed to make it and could be sidelined as United look to take another step to retaining the trophy they won in Cardiff last May.

Darren Fletcher (ankle) is definitely out but – apart from long-term absentees Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Kleberson – Ferguson has a fully-fit squad to choose form.

Provisional squad: Howard, Carroll, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Brown, O’Shea, Heinze, Fortune, Ronaldo, Rooney, Keane, Scholes, Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Giggs, Saha, Smith.