Defenders return for United

Manchester United welcomed back a clutch of key defenders for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash at Hull.

After last week’s injury-influenced horror show at Fulham, Alex Ferguson was able to recall Rafael da Silva, Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic at the KC Stadium.

That meant Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick could return to midfield roles while Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov also came in for the champions.

Hull made three changes with Bernard Mendy, Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore coming in. Playmaker Geovanni, who missed a penalty at Arsenal last week, was left on the bench.

Alan Wiley refereed a game involving United for the first time since Ferguson’s claims that he was unfit after a draw against Sunderland in October.

Hull: Myhill, Mendy, Gardner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Boateng, Olofinjana, Hunt, Altidore, Fagan. Subs: Duke, Barmby, Geovanni, Kilbane, Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Cairney.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.

Subs: Foster, Owen, Park, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Obertan, De Laet.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)