Basel chance for Berbatov

The depth of United's squad will again be tested on Tuesday night, this time in attack as much as defence as Sir Alex Ferguson ponders who to pick against Basel from five strikers biding their time for an opportunity.

Dimitar Berbatov hopes to again fill the shoes of Wayne Rooney after the latter was ruled out for the second game in a row due to a hamstring injury and the absence of Javier Hernandez - victim of a dead leg at Stoke - will offer a further opportunity to the likes of Michael Owen, Danny Welbeck, Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda.

"He's not playing tomorrow," said Sir Alex, when asked for an update on Rooney.

"It can be difficult to assess a hamstring injury. Obviously we hope we have him back quickly. He did a bit of jogging this morning but that's all. It's difficult to say. [Hernandez's injury] is straightforward, it's a dead leg. He should be ready for next Saturday."

The United manager insisted there's nothing sinister in the fact Chicharito has limped off the field in two consecutive appearances. Ashley Cole's controversial challenge in the Chelsea match was followed by an apparent push by Stoke defender Jonathan Woodgate on Saturday which led to a collision between the Mexican and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

"Saturday was an accident, a complete accident," replied Sir Alex, declining to be drawn on the issue of 'protection' from referees.

much-changed side beat the unfancied Germans 4-1. Omitted from the final 18 against Barcelona, the Bulgarian was an unused sub away to Benfica.

If Berbatov is retained from the team that kicked off against Stoke, it will be only his third Champions League start in 2011. His last one was in May's semi-final second leg against Schalke, when a 

"Of course he does," said Sir Alex, when asked if Berbatov still has a big part to play at United. "He's one of our squad members and they all have a part to play in the context of the number of games you have in the Premier League, the Champions League, the League Cup and FA Cup. It's an exhausting season unless you use your squad."

"I don't need to reassure Dimitar. He knows he's a part of the squad and that applies to many players here at this moment in time. Federico Macheda, Mame Diouf and Michael Owen haven't played regularly either but Saturday's game was only our sixth in the league and we've had the Benfica and Leeds matches. So it's still early doors. There's plenty of time."

While forwards were the focus of Sir Alex's team news, he had some bad news at the back in that Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling are also "not available" with groin and ankle problems respectively, while Nemanja Vidic "hasn't started training" since straining his calf.