WES Brown is set to return for Manchester United when the Premier League champions begin the defence of their title against Birmingham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Brown suffered a thigh problem during a pre-season game against Boca Juniors last month.
However, he has come through training unscathed this week and may be pressed into service by Sir Alex Ferguson given a clutch of defensive injuries that have hit the Reds camp.
Nemanja Vidic had already been ruled out by a calf problem and while Gary Neville has, like Brown, trained this week, he is further behind in his preparation having flown home from United's Far East tour with a calf injury and will not be considered.
In addition, Jonny Evans aggravated an ankle injury he suffered during Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Chelsea when he began international duty with Northern Ireland.
Although Evans was immediately ordered back to Manchester by Nigel Worthington, it may not be enough to guarantee his fitness to face Alex McLeish's men.
Ritchie De Laet and Fabio could both occupy full-back positions, with John O'Shea switching to central defence to partner Rio Ferdinand, who tweaked a back muscle on England duty in Holland on Wednesday.
The more likely option is for O'Shea to remain at right-back and Ferguson to use Brown's experience in the centre.
There is some good news on the injury front for Ferguson though, with goalkeeper Ben Foster over the knee problem that forced him to miss the England game.
In addition - and to Ferguson's surprise - Nani shrugged off the effects of a dislocated shoulder to feature as a substitute in Portugal's midweek triumph over Liechtenstein and is also available.
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Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, insists the Premier League title alone won't be enough to satisfy his thirst for success ahead of the game.
United came closer than ever to winning an unprecedented quintuple last season, but made do with the title, Club World Cup and Carling Cup.
Because they are not involved in the Club World Cup this season, the best they can hope for is a quadruple, which is exactly what Ferdinand is targeting.
"I want to win everything," he said. "If we do that, amazing. If not, then we hope we at least win one or two. It might sound greedy, but I can't even contemplate entering a competition and not wanting to win it.
"That just doesn't make sense to me. The Premier League's our bread and butter and we want to make history by winning it four times in a row."
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish faces major selection problems ahead of his team’s daunting return to the Barclays Premier League.
Defenders Liam Ridgewell, Martin Taylor, Scott Dann, Giovanny Espinoza and David Murphy are all unavailable.
Midfielder Lee Bowyer is suspended while striker Marcus Bent is sidelined by a hamstring problem.
But new signings Joe Hart, Roger Johnson, Gregory Vignal and Barry Ferguson will all make their debuts.
Fellow new boy, striker Christian Benitez, could be on the bench as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery.
Manchester United (from): Foster, Ferdinand, Evra, Brown, Carrick, Tosic, Scholes, Berbatov, O'Shea, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Nani, Fabio, Valencia, Anderson, Owen, Kuszczak
Birmingham City (from): Hart, Taylor, Carr, Roger Johnson, Queudrue, Vignal, Parnaby, Larsson, Carsley, Ferguson, McSheffrey, Damien Johnson, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome, O’Connor, Phillips, Benitez, Sammons, Wilson.
Key opponent: James McFadden - fiery Scot can produce a goal out of nothing
Prediction: United 2 Birmingham 0
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Manchester United v Birmingham City: Preview
August 14, 2009
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anything less then a 3-0 win will be disappointing. we really need to start this season all guns blazing as we don't have the the quality to come back like the season before.
These games are always a little awkward. Early enthusiasm from these smaller clubs is usually helped with United needing to shake off the holiday cobwebs. Friendlies are okay but they never quite do the job.
Let's hope Brum aren't as up for it as the Barcodes were last year...and let's also hope that United don't come out of the gate slowly for the 3rd consecutive year. I don't expect that Super Fletch will be our leading scorer after the first handful of games with 2.
Normally I don't like playing a promoted team 1st game, they're always on a high. But as we're at home and Brum are missing a few plus our players will want to show the fans they can play without Ronnie I fully expect a good win and a clean sheet circa 2-0.
I think Fergie will stick with Foster, the back 4 will pick themselves due to injuries with Rooney and Berb up top. I'm interested to see his midfield 4 - Carrick is a shoe-in and I'd like to see Fletch alongside him with Valencia right and Anderson left-ish. He'll probably go with either Nani or Park though.
Does anyone else hate the fact we're playing on Sunday? All the build up and anticipation for the new season and we have to wait an extra 24 hours!! Also, I love it that all the "experts" are writing us off. Bring it on.
I think United will do the normal United thing and wait until the 75th minute before scoring the first of two unanswered goals. Might be an unusual scorer of the first as well. I'd go for a scorecast of Rio and 2-0.
This Birmingham side is very very ordinary! We must be top of the league on goal difference against these has beens and never weres.
We're historically slow starters, and this one could be no different. The attitude at Wembley last week was not great IMO, and if that carries on then we could be in for a bit of a shock on Sunday. On paper we should beat Brum easily, and therein lies the problem, we may take it too casually as we've done many times in the past and come unstuck. None the less, I'm expecting us to win, although it will be tight, no more than a goal in it. Team: KK, JOS, Rio, Wes, Evra, Anderson, Fletcher, Nani, Valencia, Wazza and Berba. Bench: Foster, Carrick, Gibson, DeLaet, Fabio, Owen, Tosic. ( Yep, no Scholes or Giggs anywhere, of course having said that Fergie will probably start them both in CM!)
We're going to get some surprises here with a difficult game at Burnley on Wednesday and another hard game at Wigan on the Saturday.
Foster should be in and it'll be great if Wes starts as he is still our best defensive RB.
I have a gut feeling he'll give Scholes a game as this looks the easiest of the three games.
There's no need to rush Nani but Valencia should play, Park may get the other wide birth.
The Berb & Rooney up top.
4-0 and thats being conservative. Think Owen will figure in at least 2 of them. We will have a shots in day. Everyone will remember last year, and will push on better this.
This game should be a push over however it would be terrible if Brwon and Rio both play as niether can stay awake for a whole game,and they both love to pass the ball back,Bartez said Brown was his worst nightmare!
3-0 United. Rooney, Berbatov and Nani to score.
i will go for a 1.0 win with berbatov getting it frustratingly late in a hard game
For me just winning the premiership will be an amazing feat. Rio shouldn't really be calling it our bread and butter. We cannot take winning the premiership lightly as his statement implies. Good to be positive but he should take care not to come across as arrogant as this gives something for toher clubs to feed off.
Foster,
Wes, Rio, Evans, Patrice,
Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Nani,
Berbatov, Rooney
Subs...Amos, Fletcher, Fabio, Tosic, Macheda, Park, Scholes
5-0 win with Valencia scoring 2, Rooney 2 and another Nani wondergoal!!!!
Top of the league after first weekend, and thats were we will stay!!
I'll go United 4 Birmingham 0
Scorers: Rooney 2, Berbatov 1, A.Valencia 1
Team if Evans is not fit
Foster
Fabio Ferdinand Brown Evra
A.Valencia Carrick Anderson Nani (if fit)
Rooney Berbatov
Any win will do ...followed by 27 out of the next 37 ...and job done for another season ...!!!
I expect a comfortable 3 - 0 with MO getting a goal!
Birmingham must be praying they dont get a draw, as the last two teams to come to OT on the opening Sunday were relegated!!!
We certainly need to start off the season well
soooo come on guys
Get some goals before the one -nils kick in again!
I say 4-1. Nani brace, Rooney and Owen (the sub).
So Rio managed to tweak his back muscle again on Wednesday (no comments about turning round too quickly to find the goalie, please). He seems to be fairly fragile lately so thank goodness Wes is back. We should be OK against Brum but I think the days of Rio & Vidic game after game have gone.
Hope De Laet and Tosic get a run. Role on another successful season.
We usually start well, last season v Newcastle was nunusual in that we didnt win our first home game. we usual play well first game, miss a hatful of chances and score eventually. we beat fulham 5-0 a couple of years ago but we usually win by the odd goal and build up momentum as the weeks pass.i'd take a one nil win, with chances missed,an few scares at the back. although thats my head talking, i really want 7-0 win just to say hello to the rest of the league!that would be nice. i will take the one nil and city 3-0 defeat at rovers, with hughes sent to the stand and tevez out for a year! oops.didnt mean that, honest lads!
foster Fabio Ferdinand OShea Evra, Valencia Carrick Anderson Nani, Rooney Berbatov
I do not know hwy I do it repeatedly much as it annoys me as it never changes but here goes..I checked the Beeb website again to hear Mr. you cannot win anything with kids' prediction. Someone tell me, has he ever not predicted that this will be Liverpool's year? My recollection is that he makes that prediction every year, and the Beeb continues to employ him as a pundit?
Glad I now live in Canada knowing that my tax does not support the upkeep of Alan Hansen.
My prediction for this game is 3 - 0 United win. Good performance of control, movement, passing and shooting exercise.