Tevez starts, Rooney left on bench

Carlos Tevez was handed only his fourth Barclays Premier League start of the season as Wayne Rooney was left on the bench by Alex Ferguson for Manchester United’s encounter with West Ham.

Tevez has been squeezed out by the impressive partnership of Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov but has finally been handed his chance in a United line-up missing Edwin van der Sar, as Thomas Kuszczak was handed a rare opportunity.

Rafael took the right-back spot against a West Ham side missing Carlton Cole, Mark Noble and Scott Parker.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Tevez, Berbatov. Subs: Foster, Neville, Rooney, Giggs, Park, Carrick, O’Shea.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Bowyer, Mullins, Etherington, Di Michele, Bellamy. Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, Boa Morte, Davenport, Reid, Collison, Sears.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)