Defensive boost for Red Devils

Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown have returned to the Manchester United squad for the New Year’s Eve clash with Bolton at Old Trafford.

Silvestre has been plagued by groin problems in recent weeks while Brown missed Wednesday’s draw at Birmingham with a thigh strain.

Both men are back to bolster a shaky defence which conceded two goals at St Andrews but Louis Saha is unlikely to be involved after being sent home from the midlands with a heavy cold.

Alan Smith is suffering from the same problem but should be available.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, O’Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Park, Scholes, Smith, Fletcher, Giggs, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Rossi.