Return of the big guns

Manchester United are expected to revert to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation for tonight's Stamford Bridge tie after playing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a lone striker and Phil Neville as a manmarker at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Alex Ferguson's tactics did confuse Chelsea initially, but they were not enough to break down their 10 men in the second half. Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole should return to spearhead the attack.

Jaap Stam is available after suspension and Ryan Giggs returns from his nose operation, but Nicky Butt and Ronny Johnsen are still injured.

"We've got to consider how we can get through to the next round," Ferguson said yesterday. "We created enough chances on Sunday to have won it and the only difference being, I would imagine, at home Chelsea will have more of the game than they did at Old Trafford."

Chelsea will have Frank Leboeuf, Celestine Babayaro and Dennis Wise back in their side after completing suspensions at Old Trafford, while Michael Duberry is also expected to be fit again after injury.

Player manager Gianluca Vialli will again be absent, while midfielder Dan Petrescu has been away on international duty, but with Bjarne Goldbaek likely to fill the Romanian's right-midfield spot, Chelsea will be virtually at full strength.

There must be a winner tonight - even if it requires penalties - and Ferguson is anticipating another tight contest.

"The fact that it was zero-zero on Sunday belies the scoring ability of both teams," he said. "We had a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge and a 1-1 earlier in the season which suggests a closeness between the two sides and thereby you would expect another close game.

"When good teams play each other there is always a certain professionalism and pride that comes into play and that's what we will see tomorrow. It should be a smashing game and with so many quality players on the pitch it should be entertaining."

History is on United's side and they have only lost three of their last 18 visits to Stamford Bridge in all competitions, while the memory of their 5-3 victory there in last season's third round is still fresh.

Ronaldo played last night in Inter Milan's 2-1 cup semi-final defeat to Parma. He showed some fine touches in a 30-minute second-half appearance and is on course to face Manchester United next week. "Let's hope this returnis for good and I can stay and help this struggling Inter," he said.