Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said yesterday he had to choose between youth and experience in replacing the suspended Nemanja Vidic for Sunday's Premier League game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Serbian international misses the clash between the champion and last season's runners-up through a one-match ban for his sending off in Saturday's 1-2 defeat at Liverpool.
Jonny Evans, 20, could be handed a league debut after replacing Vidic in Wednesday's 0-0 Champions League draw against Villarreal or Ferguson may move Wes Brown alongside Rio Ferdinand as he looks to improve on the performance at Anfield.
"I have got a decision to make about centre-back, whether I go with Evans and his ability but lack of experience or whether I opt for Wes Brown's experience," Ferguson told reporters. "I am sure we won't be giving goals away like we did last Saturday and therefore we go down there very positive about it.
"It's always a good game when the top sides meet, which is why I was disappointed with last Saturday."
Chelsea has made a far better start to the season than United, which can ill afford to lose much more ground in the early stages of the title race. United is 14th with four points from three games while Chelsea has 10 from four matches.
United's new striker Dimitar Berbatov is doubtful with a knee injury but Paul Scholes returns from suspension. Gary Neville may start his first league match since 2007 if Brown does not play at right back.
"Gary Neville was playing only his second competitive match this season (against Villarreal) and did very well, which will bring him on if I decide to play him on Sunday," said Ferguson.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo made only his first appearance as a second-half substitute on Wednesday after an ankle operation. Ferguson now has to decide whether to start Ronaldo at Stamford Bridge, but that doesn't worry Chelsea.
"I don't know what the situation is with him and I'm not too concerned really," said England midfielder Frank Lampard, who scored one goal and set up two more in Chelsea's 4-0 victory over Bordeaux on Tuesday.
"He's probably the best player in the world, having done what he did last season. You can't take that away from him. If they put him back for our game then we'll have to deal with that. We're good enough to deal with Manchester United at their strongest. We shouldn't want them weakened. If they are strong they are strong and we still want to beat them."
The Chelsea-Man United matchups at the end of last season were so close that Ferguson knows his team needs to regain its form on Sunday.
The Blues beat the Red Devils 2-1 to draw level on points near the end of the Premier League campaign, only to lose the title race by two points. Then United won a penalty shootout to capture the Champions League title after a 1-1 draw in the final in Moscow.
A United victory on Sunday would open the door for Liverpool or Arsenal to go top.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily September 19, 2008)