LOUIS Saha has been ruled out of Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final decider against AS Roma with a hamstring injury.
The Frenchman has not featured for the Red Devils in over a month but had been expected to make his comeback at Portsmouth last weekend.
Instead, Saha was forced to return to Manchester for further treatment after suffering a recurrence of the problem in training on Friday.
And, while Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful the former Fulham star will be fit for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Watford at Villa Park, Tuesday's Old Trafford clash comes too soon.
"We have to err on the side of caution," said United boss Ferguson.
"There is no point bringing someone back who is not 100% fit and risk further injury."
United will also be without suspended midfielder Paul Scholes, plus Gary Neville (ankle), Nemanja Vidic (collarbone) and Mikael Silvestre (shoulder).
In addition, Park Ji-sung is also ruled out for at least a fortnight after suffering a knee injury in the win over Blackburn on March 31.
"We are still assessing Ji-sung to see what we do next with him," said Ferguson.
Riches
"Hopefully the news will be good and he will only be out for a couple of weeks."
Meanwhile, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti admits he has an embarrassment of riches as he prepares for the game.
The Eternal City club rested several usual starters for Saturday‘s 2-0 win over Catania with squad players Francesco Tavano and Mirko Vucinic supplying the goals.
However, Spalletti admits Tavano has little chance of facing United at Old Trafford where the visitors will defend their 2-1 lead.
“The reason that Tavano has so little opportunity to show how good he is is me,” said Spalletti. “It‘s my fault but I have not been able to give him many opportunities. You can see how good he is.”
Italy World Cup winners Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi as well as Alessandro Mancini, Cristian Chivu and Christian Panucci were all rested for the Catania match which was played on neutral territory at Lecce.
Totti is expected to have recovered from his sciatic nerves problem but Roma‘s third World Cup winner, Simone Perrotta, will miss the match through suspension.
Perrotta was born in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester and had been looking forward to playing in the city he left at the age of five when his parents decided to go and live in the southern Italian province of Calabria.
However, Spalletti has an obvious replacement for Perrotta in David Pizarro, the Peruvian midfielder who was ruled out of the first leg with suspension.
As for Montenegrin international Vucinic, who has scored goals against United and Catania, Spalletti said after Saturday‘s game: “Mirko has done very well for us both today and against Manchester.”
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Cathcart, Heinze, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Eagles, Giggs, Richardson, Solskjaer, Smith, Rooney, Dong.
AS Roma (from): Doni, Cassetti, Mexes, Chivu, Panucci, De Rossi, Pizarro, Wilhelmsson, Taddei, Mancini, Totti, Curci, Faty, Defendi, Ferrari, Vucinic, Rosi
Key opponent: Francesco Totti - His ability was there for all to see in the first leg and he makes the Giallorossi tick
Prediction: United 1 Roma 0 - United's defence, and Van der Sar, should have been given a wake-up call after two poor performances. If they keep their concentration United can squeeze through.
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
george (09/04/2007 at 15:48)
Sam Davis (09/04/2007 at 16:01)
Fredrik, Sweden (09/04/2007 at 16:07)
meathman007, meath (09/04/2007 at 16:11)
That leaves us with Kieran im not good enough for the championship Richarson, smith or ole as the only attacking options from the bench. I think heinze has been terrible lately and if evra is fit he has to start... Roma will without doubt score and i think we need to score at least 2 if not 3 to win. It pains me to say it - I DONT SEE IT HAPPENING.....
de Meester, netherlands (09/04/2007 at 16:26)
I feared that he'd got injured. He really didn't need to be brought on at Roma!!
That's his season over with now, I think!!
Was haop[ing he'd be the one to fire us on through the last games!!
Well we will just have to get on with it!
Who said it was going to be easy!?!
Come On You Reds
de Meester, netherlands (09/04/2007 at 16:29)
I was hoping Louis would be ok!
I fear that's his season now!I was really hoping he'd be the one to fire us through the last games to the pinnacle!!
Still at United things are never that simple or is it!?!
Alas, we will just have to get on with it!
Up The Reds
Alias Smith, over the moon (09/04/2007 at 16:31)
Sean, NYXMC (09/04/2007 at 17:38)
Graham Ford, Madoc Ontario Canada (09/04/2007 at 18:04)
Utd-For-Life, marseille ex-stretford (09/04/2007 at 18:06)
Back to the match, i suspect the following team, VDS, Oshea, Brown, Rio, Evra, Giggs, Carrick, Fletcher, Ronaldo, rooney and ole. Although not ideal, it should still be strong enough to cope with roma at OT. Lets just hope VDS cuts out the mistakes and we get a clean sheat. We are at home after all, and roma might just find playing at OT abit intimidation, especially if the crowd get behind the team and make some noise.
spencertea, Brussels (09/04/2007 at 18:22)
7501, Manchester (09/04/2007 at 18:28)
meathman007, meath (09/04/2007 at 18:53)
Lets talk facts for a minute:
Fletcher would struggle to get in about 15 of the premiership clubs midfield and wouldnt get anywhere near any of europes top clubs team. Ive had MUTV for years and ive been to see 17 utd games in the last 3 years - so i have seen him play many times. I have never rated the man. If he wasnt scottish he would have got offloaded years ago - thats a fact. Some people on here are still holding onto the belief that the glazers have not damaged this club - if you take a look at our squad for the roma game (regardless of injuries and suspensions) - it is obvious to see that we have a worrying number of substandard players. Darren Fletcher is without doubt one of them...... dont get me started on richardson!
Frank Old Trafford (09/04/2007 at 18:53)
Gerry, Glastonbury (09/04/2007 at 19:00)
I think he'll play Heinze and bring on Evra if we're desperate.
I ain't confident!!!
Paulo (09/04/2007 at 19:05)
Bradley (09/04/2007 at 20:08)
Robbo, North Stand (09/04/2007 at 20:16)
Daniel (09/04/2007 at 20:47)
Andy, Staffs, Staffs (09/04/2007 at 21:15)
keen bgood (09/04/2007 at 22:38)
Smith, Rooney - Ron, Carrick, Giggs, either Dong, Eagles,- Heinze,Rio, in center - Wes at right and either JOS or Evra if available. Let's see some new faces on the pitch we cannot win the "lousy" regular reserves - DF, KR.
Go United!!!!
keen bgood (09/04/2007 at 22:53)
COLIN, CANADA, Canada (10/04/2007 at 00:04)
JOS,RIO,WES,EVRA
RONNY,FLETCHER,CARRICK,GIGGS
SMITH, ROO
Run at them. They will sit back all night and smother the game plus another series of Oscar performances I fear.
Ronny, give us a big night. Go reds.
Sparky (10/04/2007 at 00:17)
KR - Obvious for all to see the lad is a Championship player. I can't understand how he ever got an england cap.
JOS - A good squad player. Often played out of position but does a decent job when played in defense. He is not world class of course but should be retained as a squad player.
DF - I think the lad is unfairly treated on this site. He has a good engine and I think deserves a squad place. Can't understand the constant criticism.
MC - Those who heap criticism on Carrick must be watching a different game to me. All this nonsense about passing square or backwards is simply not true. He was the only one that looked like opening Portsmouth up on Saturday. He has helped Scholes this season (by Scholes own admission) and will become a key member of the team.
Criticism for the sake of criticism is pointless and not worth the effort reading.
redmark, manchester (10/04/2007 at 01:06)