United showdown with Blackburn at League Cup quarter-final

Manchester United’s pursuit of honours on four fronts could spell trouble for one of their former heroes when Blackburn visit Old Trafford for a League Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday.

Paul Ince was a key member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team between 1989 and 1995 but is not having such an easy time of it as a manager at Blackburn.

Ince steps out at Old Trafford as a manager for the first time with his team sitting second bottom of the Premier League on a winless run of nine league matches.

That run was started with a 2-0 defeat to United at Ewood Park back in October but Ferguson’s fringe players will not think twice about piling more misery on the United legend.

The likes of Nani, Darron Gibson, Rafael Da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon failed to impress as they struggled past QPR with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the previous round.

But United’s depth of reserves means Ferguson can also field significantly more experienced operators like Carlos Tevez, Jonny Evans, Tomasz Kuszczak and Anderson.

The Scot even hinted last week that veteran Paul Scholes, who has been out since September with a knee injury, could be gradually phased back into action and the former England midfielder might appear on the bench.

The win over QPR was the start of a five-match run of clean sheets for United and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is adamant that despite United still trailing in the Premier League, confidence and momentum are growing at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman said: “We feel quite comfortable. The only thing you can do is win your own games.

“Every club has 38 matches to play and somehow we have to find a date where we can play those extra games.

“Hopefully it won’t be too late, but either way, our task is quite straightforward. We just have to get more points than the others.”

Despite winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups at United, Ince endured an uneasy relationship with Ferguson after he left Old Trafford for Inter Milan in 1995, with the Scot famously branding his former player a “big-time Charlie.”

That wound has subsequently healed but while Ferguson will have a degree of sympathy for his Blackburn counter-part, that will not stop him looking for a win that will greatly increase the pressure on Ince ahead of Blackburn’s game against Liverpool at the weekend.

Even though Blackburn’s position is precarious, Ince is adamant that the spirit in the squad is strong enough to pull through their current problems, starting at Old Trafford.

Ince said: “I don’t worry about myself but what does concern me is the lads.

“You’ve got to pick yourself up and what we don’t want is any negativity. A few of the senior players have spoken up in the changing room and the spirit’s great, we stick together, keep smiling and pick ourselves up.

“We don’t want any negativity around the club. If it’s going to be outside the club then we can’t change that but it’s important that the players, in my changing room and on my training ground keep their spirits high, that’s important and that’s what I feel and what they feel.”

Ince will have Martin Olsson back from suspension but David Dunn is still out and Stephen Reid will be absent for the rest of the season.

Championship side Watford entertain Tottenham in Wednesday’s other quarter-final tie and holders Spurs could welcome back Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, who has been sidelined for the last fortnight with a groin injury.