Ferdinand fit for Gunners showdown

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will face Arsenal on Sunday despite needing three stitches in his foot in midweek.

Ferdinand suffered the injury in the victory against Roma in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

The foot was also swollen but manager Alex Ferguson expects him to recover in time for the match against their title rivals.

Patrice Evra could return at left back after missing the European game with a knock.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are both expected to be restored to the side after being on the bench against Roma.

Nemanja Vidic (knee), Nani (thigh), Darren Fletcher (knee) and Louis Saha (hamstring) remain sidelined through injury.

Provisional squad: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Evra, 0’Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson, Hargreaves, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Tevez, Kuszczak, Foster, Pique, Welbeck.