Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo Expected to Be Back for Villarreal

An irritating summer-long transfer controversy and a hurried surgery later, Manchester United supporters will finally get the sight they've been wanting to see—Cristiano Ronaldo in a Manchester United shirt.

Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Ronaldo is available for United's midweek clash at Old Trafford.

"We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that his recovery was coming through, and now he's been training with the team so he'll play a part against Villarreal because he wants to be on the bench for Chelsea."

The Red Devils will be without Paul Scholes (suspended) and Michael Carrick (injury). Gary Neville is expected to start, subject to passing a match fitness test or Wes Brown could step in and United's star duo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are expected to be kept on the bench, with Chelsea in mind.

Manchester United's Expected Squad

Starters

1. Edwin Van der Sar

2. Gary Neville (c)

5. Rio Ferdinand

15. Nemanja Vidic

3. Patrice Evra

17. Nani

4. Owen Hargreaves

8. Anderson

11. Ryan Giggs

32. Carlos Tevez

9. Dimitar Berbatov

Substitutes

29. Thomas Kusczak

6. Wes Brown

22. John O'Shea

24. Darren Fletcher

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

10. Wayne Rooney

13. Park Ji Sung