MANCHESTER United's big guns are being loaded for a return to action against Southampton on Saturday.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have six of his biggest names refreshed after midweek breathers against Maccabi Haifa.
Three missed the trip to Cyprus with injuries and another trio stayed home for a break.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is set to make his comeback after finally overcoming a tight hamstring problem that has dogged him since his two-goal display against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany over five weeks ago.

Since his half-time departure in the BayArena the Dutchman has made just one substitute appearance at Charlton and started against Everton three weeks ago.

However, Fergie finally decided to give him a complete rest to cure the problem and now the Reds' nine-goal leading scorer is set to face the Saints at Old Trafford tomorrow. Providing the ammunition will be a trio of returning stars.

David Beckham was allowed to recharge his batteries back in Manchester while the Reds were on Champions League duty in Nicosia, but with a ban coming up against Manchester City in the Maine Road derby, the England captain will be raring to get back into action.

Ryan Giggs was left out of the Maccabi Haifa embarrassment after suffering a knee knock against Olympiakos in Athens and then withdrawing from the Aston Villa draw last weekend when he felt the injury in the warm-up.

But the Welsh winger has recovered and is due to take on Gordon Strachan's side.
Juan Veron could also limit his absence to just one match. The Argentine midfielder, who has been linked again in Italy with a return to Serie A in January with Inter Milan his rumoured destination this time, didn't travel to Cyprus because of a back injury but is now A1.

Completing the returning big guns will be Frenchmen Fabien Barthez in goal for Ricardo and Laurent Blanc, probably at the expense of John O'Shea. The pair were allowed a rest in midweek.

Key stats:

• United have won 10 of their last 17 domestic fixtures.
• They have conceded just two goals at home in the league this season.
• Southampton have never won a Premiership match at Old Trafford, losing nine times in 11 visits.
• With 16 points from 11 games, the Saints have made their best ever start to a Premiership campaign.
• United are unbeaten in their last five domestic fixtures since crashing 0-1 at home to Bolton.
• Southampton's only league win at Old Trafford came with a 0-2 success in January 1988.
• The last man to be sent off in a fixture between the clubs was Roy Keane. The United skipper got his marching orders as the Reds slumped 6-3 at The Dell in 1996.
• Diego Forlan is United's only ever-present this season.

Form Guide: United: WDWDL

Saints: DWWWW

United home form: WWWWD

Saints away form: LLLDW

Head to head (league games only):

United: Pl 84; won 41; drawn 21; lost 22

Saints: Pl 84; won 22; drawn 21; lost 41

Key clash: David Beckham v Wayne Bridge

Despite Ashley Cole having possession of the England shirt, Wayne Bridge is considered by many to be the best left back in the country.

Though perhaps not as skilful as the Arsenal man, he is undoubtedly blessed with better positional sense and is also a dangerous player going forward.

Against Beckham his chances to get forward are likely to be limited and so it will be the defensive side of his game on view.

Beckham is the best crosser of the ball in the Premiership and so the task for any defender is simple - get close to Golden Balls' right boot to block his deliveries from causing havoc in the box.

England captain Beckham also loves drifting inside and so Bridge will have to decide whether to stay wide or to follow his man and risk leaving the right flank open for Gary Neville to exploit.

Bridge is also sure to see the match as a chance to impress the England management and so he will look to bomb forward and support the attack when the Saints win possession, but any over eagerness will be playing into Beckham's, and United's, hands.

Milestones:

If United win they'll become the first side to rack up 250 Premiership victories.

If selected, Phil Neville will make his 200th league appearance for the Reds. The fullback scored with his let foot in last year's meeting.

Ruud van Nistelrooy hit his first United hat-trick in last season's 6-1 romp.

Rio Ferdinand turns 24 on Thursday.

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