Two key players will be missing when Manchester United line up against Bradford City at Old Trafford tonight.

Influential midfield player Roy Keane is suspended after being sent off in the Charity Shield against Chelsea, and Dutch defender Jaap Stam is also missing after picking up a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at West Ham.

Two other injury victims are fit again. Defender Ronny Johnsen has recovered from a groin strain suffered on the opening day of the season when United beat Newcastle 2-0 at Old Trafford when he scored.

Also fit again is full back Gary Neville. He has recovered from the groin strain that caused him to miss England's friendly international against France.

Nicky Butt is likely to take the place of Keane in midfield, linking up in the centre with Paul Scholes, who scored a stunning goal for United when they beat City 4-0 at Valley Parade last season.

David Beckham and Ryan Giggs are set to play wide and Fabien barthez is set to play in goal having recovered from the ankle injury which kept him out of the French side.

Although City also lost 4-0 at Old Trafford last season, the sides were level with 16 minutes left.

"We made a good game of it," recalls skipper and now assistant manager Stuart McCall. "Unfortunately, they then brought on Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke and we fell to bits.

"We will go there tonight and give it our best shot. There is nothing to be frightened of. It is something to look forward to. You always want to better yourself, play at the best grounds with the best players.

"Playing in front of 67,000 people should give you a lift. We have all got our job jobs to do, but it is going to need a really good performance from us to get anything out of it."

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Benito Carbone to be absent from City's line-up, feeling they will deploy Dean Windass as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation like they did at Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

That day Carbone figured only in the closing stages after Liverpool had scored.