Solskjaer to start for United

Champions League hero Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be handed a surprise start as Manchester United look to prise a first-leg advantage from their quarter-final first leg against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico tonight.

Solskjaer has won the battle with Alan Smith and barely-fit Louis Saha to fill the vacancy created by Park Ji-sung's knee injury, while John O'Shea slots in at right-back to allow Wes Brown to partner Rio Ferdinand in central defence.

Alex Ferguson's men face a stiff test in attempting to reach the last four for the first time since 2002 against a Roma side containing three Italian World Cup winners, including Manchester-born midfielder Simone Perrotta.

Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Chivu, Cassetti, Wilhelmsson, Taddei, De Rossi, Perrotta, Mancini, Totti.

Subs: Curci, Faty, Defendi, Ferrari, Vucinic, Rosi, Okaka Chuka.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Heinze, Ferdinand, O’Shea, Brown, Ronaldo, Giggs, Carrick, Scholes, Rooney, Solskjaer.

Subs: Kuszczak, Saha, Smith, Dong, Richardson, Fletcher, Eagles.

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).