Wayne leads United B team back to Hell

For Manchester United manager Ferguson, the absence of his big hitters was an indication of a job well done in the Champions League so far.

For the Italian authorities, it served to confirm that the high stakes and high tension that contributed to last season's violence at the Olympic Stadium will be absent here this time.

With United already through to the last 16 as group winners and Roma safe in second place, tonight's game is the deadest of dead rubbers.

That suits everybody fine. Ferguson — whose team face Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday — said: "I would have thought we shouldn't have any more problems.

"There is technically nothing on the match and that helps. But the police force will want to take steps to eradicate problems and I think we will be OK."

United will have 1,200 supporters for a trip that, for some, will bring back horrific memories from April's quarter-final first leg.

The sight of United fans being randomly beaten by Italian police was one that will linger for some time.

Tonight, however, they will see what will amount to a reserve match as Ferguson and his opposite number Luciano Spalletti rest key players ahead of more pressing domestic engagements.

United will be captained by Wayne Rooney — who apparently volunteered for the trip — and will have Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha in the side. Contract rebel Wes Brown will be on the bench.

Rooney may see the captaincy as an indication of Ferguson's future thoughts. Brown, meanwhile, will perhaps fear that the wilderness beckons if he does not sign what is on the table.

Ferguson said: "Wayne has been pestering me to be captain for ages and I agreed on one condition — he doesn't take the goal-kicks.

"He wants to play every game and, with him being out for a month, he probably needs another game anyway. He's a strong boy, he likes playing his football, so he plays.

"Wayne has got all the qualities and ingredients to be captain. He's in a similar mould to Bryan Robson and Roy Keane — absolute winners, determined, never-give-in type players, and we've had a few like that down the years.

"He will mature, of course he will. But he doesn't want to lose that spark. Robson and Keane never lost it and they had it to the end of their playing days."

With a fringe team having already crashed out of the Carling Cup to Coventry this season, the United manager will expect better from the likes of Gerard Pique, Jonny Evans and Chris Eagles.

"We want a performance. We're not sending a team out here to be humiliated or embarrassed," said Ferguson.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-1-1): Kuszczak; Simpson, O'Shea, Pique, Evans; Eagles, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani; Rooney; Saha.

ROMA (4-2-3-1): Doni; Cicinho, Mexes, Ferrari, Tonetto; Pizarro, De Rossi; Esposito, Giuly, Taddei; Totti.

Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden).

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