Simpson keen to make mark at United

Manchester United rookie Danny Simpson is confident he can prove six months working under Roy Keane can work wonders.

The 20-year-old full-back is tipped to make his senior United debut against Coventry tonight as Alex Ferguson takes the opportunity to rest his experienced stars at the start of his side’s Carling Cup campaign.

Simpson has long been considered a first-team star of the future, potentially capable of following in the footsteps of fellow Mancunian Gary Neville.

But Simpson feels the stint he had under Keane’s charge on Wearside last term will prove invaluable as he begins the transition from promising reserve-team defender to United regular.

“At first I was a bit nervous because Sunderland are a big club and were going for the play-offs,” he said.

“But I grew to enjoy it and it helped me come along massively.

“It was a great confidence booster in itself to know that Roy Keane had taken notice of me at United and had enough trust to put me into that situation.

“When Roy comes into a room everybody listens to him and you take on board every little bit of advice he gives you.

“Without him I would not have been getting the experience of playing in front of big crowds, in a pressure situations.

“It gave me a sniff of what it is going to be like playing for United and I am sure it will prove to be a great stepping stone.”

Fellow defender Jonny Evans, who was with the Black Cats at the same time as Simpson, is also pencilled in for his debut tonight, while John O’Shea could make his return from a knee injury sustained on international duty with the Republic of Ireland three weeks ago.

New boys Nani and Anderson are also likely to be involved and Wayne Rooney could be skipper given his forceful approach to Ferguson earlier this week.

“Rooney’s been in my ear wanting to play,” said the United chief.

“He wants to play, he wants to be the captain, he wants to take the penalties, the corners, the free-kicks, the goal-kicks, the lot.”

Tellingly though, Owen Hargreaves was not among a list of players Ferguson confirmed will be involved, a firm indication the England man is still to recover from a thigh injury suffered in training with the national team three weeks ago.