Ronaldo to step up comeback in Carling Cup

Mike Phelan believes tonight's Carling Cup tie with Middlesbrough offers Cristiano Ronaldo the perfect opportunity to ease his way back into Manchester United's starting line-up.

Ronaldo has been named in a 20-man squad for the Old Trafford encounter as United look to atone for their embarrassing first hurdle exit in the competition last term.

While the Portugal winger has come on as substitute against Villarreal and, 48 hours ago, in the battling draw at Chelsea, Sir Alex Ferguson knows Ronaldo cannot reach the level he needs to be an effective force in the Premier League without further match sharpness.

So Middlesbrough, who have had plenty of run-ins with the 23-year-old before, are inadvertently cast in the role of experimental guinea pigs.

"Cristiano is maybe a couple of weeks behind everybody else but his progression has been fantastic,'' said Phelan, who was confirmed as Ferguson's full-time assistant a fortnight ago.

"The work he has put into his recovery and training has been first class and he has been introduced into games for 15 or 20 minutes at a time.

"He knows he still needs a few more minutes to get to the level he wants to be at. Tonight is a great opportunity to do that, which is why his name is in the squad.''

Ferguson will have a few more genuine first-teamers than usual in his side, with Anderson and Nani also needing games. England duo Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves might be involved as well, although there is confusion over the availability of striker Manucho, who was due to make his debut.

In his programme notes, which were written last week, Sir Alex Ferguson suggested the Angolan would miss out due to a foot injury.

However, Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan yesterday claimed Manucho would be in a 20-man squad for the cup tie.

There will also be the usual scattering of youngsters, although young Brazilian Fabio Da Silva misses out, having been forced to undergo a shoulder operation.

England Under-19 international Danny Welbeck is also expected to be handed at least a place on the bench, with Phelan admitting the younger members of Ferguson's squad must not spurn their chance.

"Looking back 12 months to the defeat against Coventry, we were disappointed with that and we do not want to go out so early again,'' he said.

"This is a rare opportunity and in some cases it is a great opportunity. It can launch your career.

"Some of these younger players have been here a while and some might not even have played at Old Trafford. That in itself is an experience.''

Ferguson must try and strike the right balance between offering the experienced players in his squad some valuable time on the pitch, whilst ensuring as many youngsters as possible gain experience of life on the big stage.

"We have a squad of 20 players and the young ones in it are now hoping to be in the starting line-up,'' observed Phelan.

"I am sure the ones who get into the team will perform. It is what they have worked so hard to get to. They need to produce because this is a critical point of their careers.''

Wenger taken aback by Platini's verbal tirade

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has spoken of his shock at an outburst from Michel Platini.

The UEFA president suggested that Wenger was more interested in his own club having 'their business' rather than the greater good of the game, something which the Gunners manager strongly refutes.

The tirade emerged after Platini was probed about the possible introduction of video technology, which the UEFA chief is against. Wenger was brought into the conversation and he went on to make further remarks suggesting his dislike of a small number of clubs dominating football in Europe.

"I am stunned by the aggressive content of Platini's words,'' he told L'Equipe. "I am a supporter of good management of clubs, for financial equilibrium. And UEFA must equally support this idea. I am fighting for the future of the game and of football.

"I don't see why UEFA should take umbrage at ideas that are different from theirs.'

"I am effectively a supporter of video assistance for referees, like all coaches, and I believe UEFA have an important role to play in this.

"I am for sporting justice and UEFA must be the guarantor of it.''

In Platini's interview with Dauphine Libere, Wenger's name was raised during a question about the introduction of video technology.

Platini replied: "I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that.''

Platini then said he hoped video assistance would never come into football, adding: "It would make me happy that Arsene Wenger never sees it.''

Later in the interview, Platini again targeted Wenger when asked about his thoughts on Romanian side CFR Cluj's unexpected victory over Roma in the Champions League last week.

"That is what makes football so great,'' Platini said. "It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs, because they want their business.''

Zola to stay true to Hammers' youth system

Gianfranco Zola is determined that his West Ham side will maintain a strong emphasis on youth.

The new Upton Park boss got off to the perfect start with a 3-1 victory over crisis-club Newcastle and will take his squad to Coca-Cola Championship side Watford for tonight's Carling Cup tie, where some of the younger players could be given a chance to impress.

From World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters through to current England internationals Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, the Hammers' academy has a long tradition of producing top-quality players.

Midfielder Mark Noble, an England Under-21 international, is one first-team regular to have come up through the youth ranks, along with squad men Freddie Sears, Jack Collison and James Tomkins.

Zola - who worked with the Italy Under-21s before taking up his post at Upton Park - is determined for that conveyor belt to continue.

"I believe every club should have a strong youth foundation, and that was one of my main aspirations when I came here,'' he said. "I believe very strongly there should always be the possibility of allowing young players to come through to the first team.

"I know there are some good young players here and that the academy has produced many top players over the years.

"It is one of my dreams to give our young players the chance to play in our first team and become wonderful players for this club. It is part of the project I have taken on here as manager.''

West Ham impressed in Zola's first match, when they played some entertaining football to please the demanding Upton Park faithful.

However, the former Chelsea midfielder is ready to mix things up when needed.

"Obviously we want to play good football, to entertain the fans, but to get the victory at the same time,'' he said.

"However, sometimes that does not always go hand in hand - you have to, at times, try to just get the victory.

"But what we want to do, and will work at doing, is to play good football and get victories which will see us have success.''

West Ham will again be without striker Dean Ashton (ankle) and Craig Bellamy (hamstring/groin) is a doubt, while Carlton Cole is set to be rested after picking up a slight foot problem in a man-of-the-match display against Newcastle.

That means Sears is expected to be given a chance to impress.

Zola said: "For us, the Carling Cup is an important competition and we are going to try to be very competitive.

"We do not give anything away, so we are going to try to play as well as we can.''

Blades win Tevez pay out

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Carlos Tevez: His goals kept West Ham in the Premier League

West Ham could face a compensation bill of £30million after Sheffield United won their claim over the Carlos Tevez affair. The Blades, relegated in May 2006 as Tevez fired the Hammers to safety, argued that the East London side should have being docked points in the original hearing rather than being fined £5.5million and that contributed to them dropping out of the Premier League