Ruud return on hold against Milan

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be left on the bench tonight as Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hands Wayne Rooney a lone striking role in the Champions League match against AC Milan at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman’s phenomenal goalscoring record in Europe – 36 goals in 37 games - was not enough to override fitness concerns following three months out with an Achilles injury.

Ferguson makes just one change to the side which knocked Everton out of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Ryan Giggs will return in place of Phil Neville – an offensive portion of a five-man midfield which also includes Quinton Fortune.

The visitors include a host of household names in their starting line-up - but not injured European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko. Former Old Trafford favourite Jaap Stam was named in Milan’s defence.

Teams:

Man Utd: Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze, Ronaldo, Scholes, Keane, Fortune, Giggs, Rooney.

Subs: Howard, Phil Neville, Saha, van Nistelrooy, Smith, O’Shea, Silvestre.

AC Milan: Dida, Stam, Nesta, Maldini, Kaladze, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Rui Costa, Kaka, Crespo.

Subs: Abbiati, Cafu, Costacurta, Tomasson, Ambrosini, Dhorasoo, Serginho.

Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).