United sweat on stars as Veron drops out

Juan Sebastian Veron has been ruled out of Manchester United's FA Cup crunch fifth-round tie with Barclaycard Premiership rivals…

Juan Sebastian Veron has been ruled out of Manchester United's FA Cup crunch fifth-round tie with Barclaycard Premiership rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford with a broken toe that will sideline the Argentinean for two or three weeks.

Ryan Giggs is also a major fitness worry ahead of the game, while defender Laurent Blanc (calf) is definitely out.

Giggs returned home early from international duty for treatment on a calf injury, with international boss Mark Hughes claiming he must be doubtful for the Gunners' visit.

Should the Welsh winger - who will be given as long as possible - not recover, Nicky Butt or Phil Neville could come into midfield or striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be handed a start.

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Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez will be given every chance to recover from the hip and thigh injuries which ruled him out for the last two games.

Team(likely): Barthez, Carroll, Ricardo, G Neville, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Brown, O'Shea, Beckham, Butt, P Neville, Scholes, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan.