Tweet
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand could face Roma in the Champions League despite suffering a foot injury in the draw at Middlesbrough.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will make a decision in the morning over Ferdinand's fitness.
Should the England star fail to make it then either Gary Neville or Mikael Silvestre are poised to return to the team for the quarter-final second leg match.
Ferguson said: "I am hoping Rio will play. His scan was clear, that was the important thing.
"Therefore we are hoping we can get him fit to face Roma.
"We will report at 11am, so he will have to do something at that time.''
Paul Scholes is set to make his 100th Champions League appearance while Nani could return to the squad after a thigh problem.
United are looking look to build on their 2-0 advantage from the first leg but Nemanja Vidic (knee), Darren Fletcher (knee) and Louis Saha (hamstring) remain sidelined through injury.
Ferguson, meanwhile, has confidence in either Silvestre or Neville to step in after they returned to full fitness.
Neville has been out for a year with an ankle problem while Silvestre has only just returned from a knee injury.
Ferguson said: "The good thing is they are both back and training well.
"Gary and Mikael will be involved and one of them may start depending on what happens to Rio.
"I am very confident of Gary's progress now and we know of his ability to play at this level.
"They both have good experience and that helps me in this situation.''
While Neville is in line to make his 99th Champions League appearance, his team-mate Paul Scholes could reach the century mark in front of his home crowd.
Scholes has regained top form after a three-and-a-half-month absence with a knee injury and was influential in Rome.
Asked if the unassuming midfielder would be handed the armband, Ferguson quipped: "Paul would regard that as punishment!''
He added: "It took him a few weeks to get his rhythm back but now his form is fantastic.''
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney continuing their scoring form at Middlesbrough following their goals in Italy, United emphasised their potent attacking force.
Both players look set to start even though there is an important Premier League match against Arsenal to follow on Sunday.
Ferguson said: "While there will be one or two changes, I have to play a team that is going to get through.
"It is difficult to leave Ronaldo out because of the form he is in.
"He has been absolutely outstanding this season and we need to get a result.''
Roma will be without talisman Francesco Totti after he failed to overcome the thigh injury which ruled him out of the first leg.
The Italians will also be without defender Matteo Ferrari, who underwent knee surgery earlier this month.
Midfielder Rodrigo Taddei believes it will require a superhuman effort for his side to turn around the tie.
Roma face a tough task in the return leg at Old Trafford after slipping to a 2-0 defeat in the first match at the Stadio Olimpico last week.
Ferguson's side are the overwhelming favourites ahead of the decider, but Taddei insists progressing to the last four is the only option for Luciano Spalletti's players.
"Those of us who have come to Manchester have to be focused and try to give not 100% but 200% in order for us to progress, something which is our aim,'' said Taddei.
"We are aware of how difficult our task will be. We have a negative result against us and we face a great side away from home.''
Roma will travel to Manchester without talismanic forward Francesco Totti, who has failed to recover from a thigh injury that also ruled him out of the first leg.
Totti's season has been marred by injuries - the playmaker has missed 13 games in total - and Taddei revealed the rest of the team are becoming accustomed to playing without their top scorer.
"Totti is a top player and this cannot be denied,'' said Taddei.
"But we have had to play without him already this campaign and we have taken important results.''
Taddei, who scored the opener in Roma's 3-2 league win against Genoa on Saturday, is confident his team can succeed without the former Italy international.
"It is understandable that others may find in Totti's absence an excuse for defeat,'' he said. "But we know that the defeat against Manchester United in the opening leg came from the fact we didn't make use of our chances to score.''
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will make a decision in the morning over Ferdinand's fitness.
Should the England star fail to make it then either Gary Neville or Mikael Silvestre are poised to return to the team for the quarter-final second leg match.
Ferguson said: "I am hoping Rio will play. His scan was clear, that was the important thing.
"Therefore we are hoping we can get him fit to face Roma.
"We will report at 11am, so he will have to do something at that time.''
Paul Scholes is set to make his 100th Champions League appearance while Nani could return to the squad after a thigh problem.
United are looking look to build on their 2-0 advantage from the first leg but Nemanja Vidic (knee), Darren Fletcher (knee) and Louis Saha (hamstring) remain sidelined through injury.
Ferguson, meanwhile, has confidence in either Silvestre or Neville to step in after they returned to full fitness.
Neville has been out for a year with an ankle problem while Silvestre has only just returned from a knee injury.
Ferguson said: "The good thing is they are both back and training well.
"Gary and Mikael will be involved and one of them may start depending on what happens to Rio.
"I am very confident of Gary's progress now and we know of his ability to play at this level.
"They both have good experience and that helps me in this situation.''
While Neville is in line to make his 99th Champions League appearance, his team-mate Paul Scholes could reach the century mark in front of his home crowd.
Scholes has regained top form after a three-and-a-half-month absence with a knee injury and was influential in Rome.
Asked if the unassuming midfielder would be handed the armband, Ferguson quipped: "Paul would regard that as punishment!''
He added: "It took him a few weeks to get his rhythm back but now his form is fantastic.''
With Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney continuing their scoring form at Middlesbrough following their goals in Italy, United emphasised their potent attacking force.
Both players look set to start even though there is an important Premier League match against Arsenal to follow on Sunday.
Ferguson said: "While there will be one or two changes, I have to play a team that is going to get through.
"It is difficult to leave Ronaldo out because of the form he is in.
"He has been absolutely outstanding this season and we need to get a result.''
Roma will be without talisman Francesco Totti after he failed to overcome the thigh injury which ruled him out of the first leg.
The Italians will also be without defender Matteo Ferrari, who underwent knee surgery earlier this month.
Midfielder Rodrigo Taddei believes it will require a superhuman effort for his side to turn around the tie.
Roma face a tough task in the return leg at Old Trafford after slipping to a 2-0 defeat in the first match at the Stadio Olimpico last week.
Ferguson's side are the overwhelming favourites ahead of the decider, but Taddei insists progressing to the last four is the only option for Luciano Spalletti's players.
"Those of us who have come to Manchester have to be focused and try to give not 100% but 200% in order for us to progress, something which is our aim,'' said Taddei.
"We are aware of how difficult our task will be. We have a negative result against us and we face a great side away from home.''
Roma will travel to Manchester without talismanic forward Francesco Totti, who has failed to recover from a thigh injury that also ruled him out of the first leg.
Totti's season has been marred by injuries - the playmaker has missed 13 games in total - and Taddei revealed the rest of the team are becoming accustomed to playing without their top scorer.
"Totti is a top player and this cannot be denied,'' said Taddei.
"But we have had to play without him already this campaign and we have taken important results.''
Taddei, who scored the opener in Roma's 3-2 league win against Genoa on Saturday, is confident his team can succeed without the former Italy international.
"It is understandable that others may find in Totti's absence an excuse for defeat,'' he said. "But we know that the defeat against Manchester United in the opening leg came from the fact we didn't make use of our chances to score.''
Comment