Rooney starts for United against Rangers

England striker Wayne Rooney made his first start for Manchester United since the beginning of October in their Champions League Group C clash against Scottish champions Rangers here on Wednesday.

Rooney, who came on as a substitute against Wigan last Saturday, will be partnered up front by Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov in a match from which United need a point to secure their place in the last 16.

Jonny Evans was joined at centre-back by summer signing Chris Smalling, with Ryan Giggs returning to the left flank after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Rangers realistically need to win to keep their knockout phase hopes alive.

Valencia have a two-point advantage over them and host Turkish side Bursaspor, bottom of the group without a goal or a point, in the other game.

Despite this, Rangers manager Walter Smith only selected veteran Kenny Miller up front, while keeping faith with the five-man defence that his side have used in the competition.

Teams

Rangers: McGregor, Davis, Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Foster, Naismith, McCulloch, Hutton, Weiss, Miller

Manchester United: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Evans, Smalling, Fabio Da Silva, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney