Trio could face Liverpool
United could have Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney and Ferdinand all back in action for Sunday's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool as Sir Alex Ferguson promised to "pick the right team".
The boss is, of course, referring to changes he made to his team for last season's 1-0 third round defeat to Leeds at Old Trafford. Sir Alex does not want to make the same mistake again.
"We picked a team we thought was good enough to beat Leeds," he told reporters at Carrington on Friday. "The FA Cup is a competition that has had its shocks, and we got a shock last year. I picked the wrong team; I hope I don't pick the wrong team this time.
"I hope to have Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney fit for Sunday. Rooney has been in good form lately and Edwin is obviously valuable for his experience. They both have a chance. Other than that, it's the same squad as Tuesday. Rio Ferdinand is OK, we just rested him against Stoke."
Rooney came off against West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day having suffered an ankle injury. He returned to the field with United defending a tight 2-1 lead, and Sir Alex admits it was a risk. "It was maybe not the right thing to do in terms of being fit for Tuesday night's game. But we just hope that he's all right for Sunday."
There was also an update on Owen Hargreaves, but there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. "Hargreaves went to Germany to see a specialist to treat a hamstring injury," said Sir Alex. "There's no further update on that. He's still injured."
Sir Alex admits last year’s FA Cup third round exit at the hands of cross-Pennine rivals Leeds left him feeling sick for days.
It was a feeling shared by many fans, who saw an under-strength and below-par United crash out of the competition as Jermaine Beckford handed the then League One side a 1-0 win.
It was the first time Sir Alex has bowed out at the first hurdle in the competition, and he is keen not to repeat it.
“There are shocks in cup ties and they have been there ever since the FA Cup started,” he said. “It’s a tournament which you cannot take for granted. We did last year, and it’s the first time I’ve lost a third round tie. That didn’t sit well with me. I was sick for a few days. I didn’t enjoy it, so hopefully I enjoy it on Sunday.
"I was talking to Rio Ferdinand the other day and he was saying, ‘I’ve never won the FA Cup’. I couldn’t believe that. But we’ll have a go."
