No City start for Diouf

Alex Ferguson will resist the temptation to throw new boy Mame Biram Diouf into the white-hot atmosphere of a derby-day debut against Manchester City.

Manchester United have received a work permit for the Senegal-born striker, who they signed last summer but allowed to remain on loan with Norwegian outfit Molde.

However, they have still to gain international clearance for the player and the vagaries of the transfer window mean while Diouf has been able to train with his team-mates – and impressing Ferguson with his talents – he will not be able to face Leeds in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on January 3.

The next opportunity for Diouf to play would be three days later, when United travel to City for the first-leg of a keenly anticipated Carling Cup semi-final.

Yet Ferguson has already decided it would be asking too much of such a young player.

“Mame has been training really well. We are very pleased about that,” said Ferguson.

“He can’t play in the Leeds United game but hopefully we will get international clearance by the time we face Manchester City in the semi-final. I wouldn’t have thought we will start him in that game though. It will be too early.”