Alex Ferguson finds it difficult to see starting slot for Beckham

Beckham flew into Manchester yesterday to the usual overwhelming greeting, covered live on TV no less, with fans eager to get autographs and photographs of England's footballing icon.

What Beckham really craves, though, is the chance to play at Old Trafford tonight, and face his former club for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003. Yet if it happens, Ferguson doesn't think it will be from the kick-off.

In trying to ignore what he feels is the circus that surrounds Beckham, his analysis of the Milan side aiming to become the first to beat United in a two-legged tie having lost the opening game on home soil does not include the former England captain.

"I am finding it difficult to pick their team but I don't know whether Beckham will start," said Ferguson.

"I have not got that down in my conclusions about their team.

"He has not started a game since the first leg, so it is difficult to say what impact he will have on the game. But he will be there and the one thing you have to be aware of is his delivery of the ball, which is fantastic. That is the threat. There are a lot of threats in their team of course, but we are well aware of David's."

On this season's evidence, Ferguson has a more obvious threat to deal with given Brazilian sensation Pato is likely to be fit after a hamstring strain.

However, United have a major weapon of their own to call upon now Wayne Rooney has made a rapid recovery from the knee injury he aggravated on international duty last week and kept him out of Saturday's win at Wolves.

"It was a worry with Rooney," said Ferguson of his 28-goal front-man. "Looking at him last Friday I didn't think he had any chance. But he has progressed and he plays and we are pleased at that because given his form at the moment I am sure whatever match he went into he would be an absolute threat to anyone."

Rooney's presence could

mean Antonio Valencia and Nani occupy the wider roles and, with Michael Carrick suspended and Ryan Giggs only just back in training after breaking his arm at Aston Villa last month, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-sung may form a three-man central midfield.

In the immediate aftermath of David Beckham's departure in 2003, Fletcher was one of the men who, unsuccessfully at first, tried to maintain United as a title-winning force.

All those reservations have now been dismissed, to the extent that Fletcher's absence was cited as the major reason why United were so comprehensively outplayed in last year's final defeat by Barcelona. There are plenty of examples where Fletcher has performed admirably against the very best midfielders.

And the Scotland captain admits occasions like tonight's meeting with the seven-time European Cup winners have a special relevance. "They are the matches I enjoy," he said. "And I hope they bring out the best in me.

"You can't beat a Champions League night. It is a competition all players want to play in.

"You are pitting yourself against the best players and the best teams in Europe. You have to try and rise to the challenge.

"That is the great thing about playing for a club like Manchester United. We have all these great occasions. I relish them."