Team news

Wolves preview
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is set to name an unchanged starting line-up for clash with Manchester United at Molineux.

McCarthy is poised to retain the team that has started the last three games.

Striker Andy Keogh retains his place in the squad after suffering no reaction to his comeback from ankle surgery when he made his return as a substitute at Bolton last weekend.

Keogh is again likely to be on the bench as Wolves seek only their second win in 10 league games.

Winger Michael Kightly and midfielder Dave Edwards are still sidelined.

Kightly, who had ankle surgery in November, now has knee problems while Edwards is continuing his rehabilitation following an ankle operation in December.

Wolves could do with pulling off a shock victory against United as they are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

McCarthy, who has seen his side win just one of their last nine league games to leave then only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, has promised to adopt a bold approach and will certainly not be setting out to try and frustrate United.

He added: "We will be going for it to try and win the game.

"Do United have one banana skin in a season? It may well be here.

"The fans don't come to see us lose whoever we play against. Only recently we drew with Liverpool, beat Tottenham and played very well against Chelsea when we should have got something from the game.

"We are capable of getting a result and we are looking forward to it.

"It is a daunting task with the position that we are in but we wanted to be in with the big boys and it is a big, exciting game for us.

"It is a big ask playing against Manchester United at any time but I feel we are in good shape and have been playing well.

"Anything we get out of this game we will have to work hard for.

"But we have to believe we can get something. We won't be negative.

"If we can keep playing as we have been then we will have more than enough chances of staying in this league."

Manchester United preview
Rio Ferdinand returns to the Manchester United starting line-up.

Ferdinand has missed two games, plus England's midweek win over Egypt, with a back injury.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed the move was only precautionary and the 31-year-old will return for the Red Devils at Molineux.

A draw would take United top but Ferguson will demand all three points with leaders Chelsea in FA Cup action this week.

Nani is available after suspension but Ryan Giggs (broken arm) will not be available until next weekend. Michael Owen (hamstring) is out, Wayne Rooney (knee) is doubtful.

Although Mick McCarthy controversially made 10 changes to his starting line-up for the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in December, Ferguson expects Wolves to scrap for their lives.

Rafael Benitez may have adopted a rather superior attitude to Blackburn's tactics at Anfield on Sunday, but Ferguson realises anything goes in the bid to avoid relegation.

"If you had a team down at the bottom of the league and they weren't fighting for their lives, the fans would be the first ones to ask questions," said Ferguson.

"The least they expect is for their players to give 100%.

"That is what you are going to get from now until the end of the season when you play these teams. I don't think anything else - and quite rightly so.

"If I was a supporter, director, manager or coach of a team who are battling for their lives and you have one or two players who don't understand what that means, you have a problem.

Wolverhampton vs Man Utd

Last modified 22:17 06/03/10

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Paul Scholes scored his 100th Premier League goal to send Manchester United to the top of the table.

The champions, without injured 27-goal striker Wayne Rooney, struggled for long periods against Mick McCarthy’s battling Wolves side.

But Scholes struck in the 73rd minute as United leapfrogged Chelsea to take the No.1 spot. Rooney was left behind in Manchester with the knee injury Sir Alex Ferguson felt should have kept him out of the England team that beat Egypt in midweek.

You can be certain Rooney got a private rollicking from Ferguson following the United manager’s very public criticism of him on Friday.

Fergie felt Rooney should have told Fabio Capello that he should only be used sparingly at Wembley – and is now a doubt for the Champions League return against AC Milan on Wednesday. Kevin Doyle should have done better than fire a great early chance wide for Wolves.

The Irishman, lurking unmarked just inside the United area when Matt Jarvis pulled the ball back, hesitated before pulling a weak effort wide.

United responded with a snap shot from Antonio Valencia that drifted off target.

Then Darron Gibson could only roll a shot wide as he stretched to connect with a Nani free-kick that had been blocked into his path. Nani, just back from a three-match suspension, was lucky to escape when he caught Christophe Berra with a flying kick that Bruce Lee would have been proud of.

Peter Walton, the referee who sent the Portuguese winger off at Aston Villa, ­offered nothing more than a lecture this time.

Wolves were proving to be game enough against the champions – ironic, given they were handed a suspended fine of £25,000 for playing a weakened team at Old Trafford in December. But Mick McCarthy’s team are the lowest scorers in the top-flight, and when Doyle hesitated again to allow Scholes to get in a crucial tackle it was indicative of their season.

Doyle was giving Nemanja Vidic some uncomfortable moments and he tore past the United defender to send Jarvis clear on the left.

His pull-back looked perfect for David Jones, but Michael Carrick got in a block that took most of the pace off the former United midfielder’s shot and Edwin van der Sar made a comfortable save.

Stephen Ward should have scored for Wolves in the 35th minute when Jarvis served up a delicious left-wing cross but the defender could only send an unmarked header straight at Van der Sar from six yards.

United stepped up a gear after the break but Wolves rode the storm and started to exert some pressure of theior own when Jarvis began to attack Gary Neville.

But Scholes broke home hearts in the 73rd minute with a cool finish. Berra failed to get a clean contact on the ball as he tried to clear Nani’s cross and Scholes sidestepped a desperate tackle by Berra before burying his shot past Hahnemann.

Substitutes Mame Briam Diouf and Ji-Sung Park wasted opportunities to make it more comfortable for the visitors.

But Wolves should have equalised in injury time when the ball fell to substitute Sam Vokes six yards out just ­second after he had come on – but he blazed over.