Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is sweating on the fitness of Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron for the St. Stephen's Day trip to Middlesbrough.
Veron missed yesterday's 1-0 defeat at Blackburn with an ankle injury. Ferguson has played down the seriousness of the problem.
Roy Keane made his long-awaited comeback with a 30-minute substitute appearance at Ewood Park but again may have to settle for a place on the bench.
David Beckham is more likely to earn a recall, while veteran centre-half Laurent Blanc could also be a surprise starter.
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Provisional squad: Barthez, Ricardo, G Neville, Silvestre, Brown, Blanc, O'Shea, Beckham, P Neville, Scholes, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Forlan, Richardson.