Brown fit for United start

Wes Brown is expected to start for Manchester United when the Barclays Premier League champions begin the defence of their title against Birmingham on Sunday.

Brown has recovered from a thigh injury he picked up in pre-season so, with Jonny Evans (ankle) likely to join Nemanja Vidic (calf) and Gary Neville (groin) on the sidelines, the England defender should play in central defence alongside Rio Ferdinand.

Ben Foster is fit and seems certain to pip Tomasz Kuszczak for the goalkeeping slot as United begin life without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen could make their debuts.

Team (from): Foster, Kuszczak, O’Shea, De Laet, Ferdinand, Brown, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tosic, Valencia, Owen, Rooney, Berbatov, Macheda.