David Beckham will almost certainly start Manchester United's bid for European glory this season, manager Alex Ferguson said today.
Ferguson suggested last weekend that Beckham had to improve quickly if he wanted to be named in the starting side for their Champions League third round, first leg qualifying tie against Hungary's Zalaegerszeg on Wednesday.
But the Scot then praised the England captain in midweek after United's 5-0 victory over Aarhus in a friendly.
"There is every likelihood that David will start on Wednesday . . . no doubt about that," Ferguson said.
Beckham, who suffered a broken bone in his foot at the end of last season, and the rest of United's England internationals were given more rest after returning from the country's World Cup campaign in June.
But it means their pre-season preparations are lagging behind the rest of the squad.
"It is difficult to judge. The England players have not had an adequate number of games you'd like them to have before a league campaign - but this European game makes a difference," said Ferguson.
Beckham's chances of starting United's league season, against West Brom at Old Trafford on August 17th, are not guaranteed, however.
In an interview on the BBC's Football Focus, Ferguson also denied saying that Arsenal's Patrick Vieira wanted to join United 12 months ago.
In a newspaper report last week, Ferguson was quoted as saying that Arsenal would not let the French midfielder move to Old Trafford.
But Ferguson said on Saturday: "I never said all that . . . I never mentioned Vieira at any time. I don't think I'm as imprudent as that.
"I was speaking about United, and how most players would like to play for us - and they just tagged Vieira on."