Keane out, Ronaldo in for United

Manchester United travelled to Spain for the Champions League clash with Villarreal without captain Roy Keane, but with Cristiano Ronaldo in their squad.

While Ronaldo has returned from compassionate leave and declared his availability for tomorrow night’s Group B clash, Keane reported a slight hamstring strain in training and, with Sunday’s Premiership trip to Liverpool looming, Alex Ferguson opted not to risk his veteran skipper.

His absence means Alan Smith is almost certain to continue in central midfield as United look to open their European campaign with three points in what Ferguson believes will be the toughest fixture of a group which also includes Benfica and Lille.

Ronaldo’s creativity was badly lacking in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Saturday, although with Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-Sung also in Ferguson’s squad, the Portuguese winger is by no means certain to start.

Provisional squad: Van der Sar, Howard, O’Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Fletcher, Scholes, Smith, Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo, Richardson, Rossi, Van Nistelrooy, Pique, Park, Miller.