Ferdinand to start for United

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Rio Ferdinand will return to the starting line-up for the visit of Otelul Galati.

Ferguson also confirmed that midfielder Tom Cleverley will miss the Champions League clash at Old Trafford due to injury.

Ferdinand was dropped to the bench for United’s 1-0 win against Everton over the weekend but will start in the absence of the suspended Nemanja Vidic.

Promising midfielder Cleverley only recently returned to the team following a long injury lay-off and picked up a knock against the Toffees.

Chris Smalling remains sidelined with a fractured foot, but long-term injury victim Rafael is back to boost last season’s Champions League finalists’ backline.

“Cleverley won’t play tomorrow,” Ferguson told reporters. “It’s not serious but it’s one of those injuries where he got a little tweak on it on Saturday.”

“We’ll look at the long view and make sure he’s available for a long period rather than play him again and risk it coming back to haunt us. I think he’ll miss Saturday’s game also.”

“Rafael is back but Chris Smalling and Ashley Young are still injured. We’ve got a few niggling injuries about the place but hopefully they’re on the mend, most of them.”

“We’ll have to make one or two changes tomorrow but hopefully we’ll be strong enough.”

United sit second in Group C behind Benfica.