Fabio gets the nod for Schalke clash

Alex Ferguson has included one major surprise in his Manchester United starting line-up for tonight’s Champions League semi-final with Schalke with Brazilian full-back Fabio selected to fill the right-back slot.

Fabio gets the call ahead of twin brother Rafael, who is named on the bench, and John O’Shea, who misses out altogether.

Ferguson has also chosen Javier Hernandez to line up alongside Wayne Rooney, with Nani missing out, and Ryan Giggs handed a midfield berth.

United are aiming to end a run of four straight defeats to German opposition in two-legged Champions League ties, a run that included semi-final losses to Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.

Tonight's game is the Red Devils’ 12th semi-final, compared to Schalke’s first.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Hernandez.

Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Evans.

Schalke 04: Neuer, Uchida, Matip, Metzelder, Sarpei, Farfan, Papadopoulos, Jurado, Baumjohann, Raul, Edu.

Subs: Schober, Escudero, Plestan, Kluge, Charisteas, Karimi, Draxler.

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Madrid)