Stam has done little to justify the massive £10.75 million transfer fee that Alex Ferguson splashed out to sign the Dutch World Cup centre-half from PSV Eindhoven.

Part of a United defence which has gone down to two embarrassing 3-0 defeats to Arsenal in the space of six weeks, Stam has shown few glimpses of his best form.

Now he faces possibly his stiffest test since he moved to England in the shape of Owen, who has already grabbed five goals this season and won Match of the Day's prestigious goal of the month competition for August.

Owen scored a crucial goal in the same fixture last Easter which robbed United of two vital points in the race for the Premiership crown, though the 18-year-old blotted his copybook by getting sent off later in the game.

He is in a rich vein of form and United - who have conceded six goals in their last two matches, against Barcelona and Arsenal - will be very wary of the Owen-Robbie Fowler double act.