United bank on experience

Sir Alex Ferguson promised that Manchester United FC "won't let the fans down this year" as they prepared to open their UEFA Champions League campaign with an Anglo-Scottish skirmish with Group F rivals Celtic FC.

'Apprehension'
The United manager admitted he felt "apprehension" at the memory of last season's failure in this competition, where the Old Trafford side finished bottom of their group after recording just one win and three goals in six matches. However, he added that the harsh lesson would serve them well this time round. "We were disappointing and it's not going to happen again," said the Scot. "I think experiences are great, even when you lose, if you have young players who want to learn from that.

Maturity showing
"All the players know they are better than they showed last year. At vital moments, we did not have enough experience." The belief inside the United camp, as voiced by defender Mikaël Silvestre, is "the players are more mature" now - and the way they have started this term suggests as much. Last weekend's 1-0 success against Tottenham Hotspur FC left them top of the Premiership with four straight victories.

Inexperience
Celtic, by contrast, arrived here with a considerably less battle-hardened squad than that which won at both Blackburn Rovers FC and Liverpool FC on their most recent cross-border visits in 2002/03. Only captain Neil Lennon survives and comparing that side of Martin O'Neill's to today's team, manager Gordon Strachan said: "They were guys at the top of their game. We have a more inexperienced side." That inexperience is writ large in Strachan's back line, where Mark Wilson, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus and Stuart Naylor have only one UEFA Champions League appearance between them - United captain Gary Neville has 92.

Daunting assignment
Add the fact three of the quartet did not train fully on the eve of the match due to injuries - Caldwell (heel), McManus (thigh), Naylor (ankle) - and it appears a daunting assignment awaits. "We'll try and give our back four as much protection as possible but there will be times they have to stand on their own two feet," said Strachan, who should restore Kenny Miller to his attack, either as a lone striker or supporting Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, scorer of the only goal at Aberdeen FC on Saturday.

Rooney returns
Celtic lost home and away to United in close-season friendlies and must try and contain Wayne Rooney, who returns to action after missing five games for club and country through suspension. Like Paul Scholes - expected to shrug off a dead leg to start in midfield - Rooney has not played since the season's opening day, when he scored twice in a 5-1 triumph against Fulham FC. "Wayne particularly needs to get back playing," said Sir Alex, who will hope Rooney - without a UEFA Champions League goal since his debut hat-trick against Fenerbahçe SK - will take out his frustrations on the visitors.

Probable teams

Manchester United:

Celtic: Artur Boruc; Mark Wilson, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus, Lee Naylor; Shunsuke Nakamura, Neil Lennon, Thomas Gravesen, Aiden McGeady; Kenny Miller; Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.