Ferguson unleashes his attack

Solskjaer's career as a striker of remarkable instinct has certainly ended prematurely. Those of his ilk do not come along that often.

But in the Jose Alvalade Stadium tonight the Norwegian will look down on United's future.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez will share a football field in United colours for the first time as manager Sir Alex Ferguson finally parades the triumvirate he believes will win him another Champions League.

With Rooney cleared to play after his early recovery from a broken foot and Argentina striker Tevez given further opportunity to shake off the effects of a long summer, this is almost the United that Ferguson envisaged when he sat down with his staff last May and identified just how they could take the extra step once more in Europe.

However, Owen Hargreaves — the England midfielder signed in the summer from Bayern Munich — will be missing with thigh trouble.

We will have to wait a while longer to see the European bow of the player that Ferguson feels will make his team defensively secure in the competition.

But seeing Ronaldo, 22, Rooney, 21, and Tevez, 23, together — not to mention veteran forwards Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes — is a sight that will warm the hearts of those who hold United's attacking traditions dear.

Ferguson was clutching Sir Bobby Charlton's autobiography in his hand as he arrived here yesterday.

It is easy to feel that the likes of Charlton, George Best and Denis Law — all at Old Trafford when United first won the European Cup in 1968 — would have approved.

"There is no question of the ability of the lads," said Ferguson, with some understatement yesterday.

"Tevez is getting there, fitness wise; he did well for us on Saturday. Rooney has only had one game but has been training hard.

"When you have got these players with that ability there is no question it bodes well for us. They are intelligent enough, there is no question about that. I think Ronaldo is different from the other two in that he can play in the wide positions. I think Tevez and Rooney prefer to play central.

"It gives us a good chance in the Champions League this season because we have got the experience of playing European games.

"Scholes and Giggs, (Michael) Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, (Louis) Saha, Tevez, Nani can win games."

Not surprisingly, all the attention was focused on Ronaldo as United arrived to train briefly at the club where he spent seven years.

Certainly Ronaldo can expect a much nicer reception tonight than he has on United's two recent visits to Sporting's city rivals Benfica.

And Ferguson admitted that he has been surprised at the progress the forward has made since embarrassing experienced United players in a friendly here four years ago, shortly before his transfer to Old Trafford.

Ferguson said: "When you sign players who are 18 you don't expect the rapid rise that we have seen with Cristiano, that's for sure.

"Young players have to grow and develop and playing in a foreign country is never easy. But the speed of his development has been amazing. It has been fantastic to have been part of it."

Ferguson was in relaxed mode yesterday as he visited a country — and a club — that he clearly likes. But the state of the pitch concerned him enough for his players to train only briefly.

When he realised that German referee Herbert Fandel will be in charge tonight his face fell. "Have we got some Mogadon (tranquillisers) with us?" he joked. "There really is nothing we can do about it. We just have to get on with it."

Fandel sent off Scholes in the fiery 2-1 defeat at Roma last season and also dismissed Roy Keane in Porto three-and-a-half years ago. Both decisions were correct but Ferguson has a downer on officials at the moment.

Referring to their treatment of Ronaldo, he said: "There is some unfairness towards him from referees. The sending-off at Portsmouth was ridiculous and the booking at Everton on Saturday was even more ludicrous."

SPORTING LISBON (4-4-2): Stojkovic; Abel, Polga, Tonel, Ronny; Izmailov, Veloso, Romagnoli, Moutinho; Djalo, Liedson.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Scholes, Carrick; Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs; Tevez.

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).

TV: Sky Sports 2 from 6pm (kick-off 7.45).