Roy Keane was a notable absentee from the Manchester United squad that headed out to Athens for tomorrow night's Champions League encounter with Panathinaikos.
Having already informed the Irishman that he would be rested at times this season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed today that Keane would be spared the four-hour flight in order to rest a minor hamstring strain.
The injury is not expected to keep Keane out of the cruciald Premiership clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
England midfielder Nicky Butt is expected to take Keane's place in the United starting line-up, amid allegations he held talks with his manager over a lack of recent first-time opportunities.
Butt this weekend admitted he had, at times, been upset at being left out for key games, although publicly the England international insisted he had never thought about leaving his only professional club.
United require just a single point to ensure qualification for next year's knock-out phase, although they do have the safety net of a home tie with German league leaders Stuttgart to come in a fortnight's time.
Team
(from): Howard, Carroll, G Neville, O'Shea, Fortune, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, P Neville, Butt, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Forlan, Bellion, Tierney, Wood, Pugh.