Sir Alex Ferguson expects David Beckham to be consigned to the AC Milan bench for his emotional Old Trafford return.

Beckham flew into Manchester this lunchtime to the usual overwhelming greeting, covered live on TV no less, with fans eager to get autographs and photographs of England's footballing icon.

What Beckham really craves, though, is the chance to play at Old Trafford tomorrow, and face his former club for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid in 2003.

Yet if it happens, Ferguson does not believe it will be from the kick-off.

In trying to ignore what he feels is the circus that surrounds Beckham, his analysis of the Milan side aiming to become the first to beat United in a two-legged tie having lost the opening game on home soil does not include the former England skipper.

"I am finding it difficult to pick their team but I don't know whether Beckham will start," said Ferguson, whose side hold a 3-2 advantage.

"I have not got that down in my conclusions about their team.

"He has not started a game since the first leg, so it is difficult to say what impact he will have on the game.

"But he will be there and the one thing you have to be aware of is his delivery of the ball, which is fantastic.

"That is the threat. There are a lot of threats in their team of course, but we are well aware of David's."

Wayne Rooney has made a rapid recovery from the knee injury he aggravated on international duty last week and kept him out of Saturday's win at Wolves.

"It was a worry with Rooney," said Ferguson of his 28-goal frontman.

"Looking at him last Friday I didn't think he had any chance.

"But he has progressed and he plays and we are pleased at that because given his form at the moment I am sure that whatever match he went into he would be an absolute threat to anyone."

Milan coach Leonardo has been impressed by the development in Rooney since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid.

"Rooney is a fixed point of reference in the United team," said the Brazilian.

"It is incredible to see the way he has developed, grown and matured as a player.

"Maybe it has had something to do with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving because it meant he needed to step up."

Antonio Valencia and Nani could occupy the wider roles for United and, with Michael Carrick suspended and Ryan Giggs only just back in training after breaking his arm at Aston Villa last month, Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-sung are the men Ferguson might use in a three-man central midfield.

Wes Brown has been out of action for between four and six weeks with a broken bone in his foot.