Fergie sends out weakened team against Roma

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made a surprise selection for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Roma at Old Trafford.

While Rio Ferdinand was judged to be fit after suffering a foot injury in the draw at Middlesbrough, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were on the bench.

Ferguson made five changes from the weekend with Mikael Silvestre returning to the team for the first time since September following a knee injury.

Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Ji-Sung Park and Gerard Pique were also drafted in with United looking to defend their 2-0 advantage and claim a place in the semi-finals.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Pique, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Hargreaves, Park, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Tevez.

Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Ronaldo, Rooney, Scholes, O’Shea, Welbeck.

Roma: Doni, Panucci, Mexes, Juan, Cassetti, De Rossi, Pizarro, Taddei, Perrotta, Mancini, Vucinic.

Subs: Curci, Cicinho, Aquilani, Giuly, Esposito, Tonetto, Brighi.

Referee: Tom Ovrebo (Norway)