United ponders Welbeck start in Basel mission
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China Daily, December 7, 2011
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Danny Welbeck of Manchester United warms up during a Manchester United training session at St.Jakob-Park on December 6, 2011 in Basel, Switzerland. |
Manchester United could turn to Danny Welbeck to solve its injury problems in attack as it tackles Basel on Wednesday needing a draw to reach the Champions League last 16.
United lost Javier Hernandez to an ankle injury at the weekend and with concerns about Dimitar Berbatov's ankle, Welbeck may start despite only just returning from a muscle strain sustained on England duty on Nov 12.
"We think with Hernandez that it's torn ankle ligaments unfortunately," said United coach Sir Alex Ferguson after Saturday's 1-0 win at Aston Villa.
"That will keep him out for a month. We're having a torrid time with injuries at the moment.
"But Danny Welbeck came back at Villa, got some time on the pitch, and he gives us an option for Wednesday. He's not had a lot of football recently so it's something I'll have to consider.
"But I thought Nani did all right down the middle and Antonio Valencia also did very well when he came on so we've got some options up front. Maybe Berbatov will be fit also."
Victory at Villa Park represented United's fourth 1-0 win in five league games since its 6-1 humiliation at home to Manchester City, but it continues to stutter in cup competitions.
Ferguson's side was knocked out of the League Cup by second-tier Crystal Palace last week and last season's beaten finalist has picked up only two wins from its five Champions League group games to date.
The 2-2 draw at home to Benfica in its most recent game gifted the Portuguese giant a place in the knockout phase and means United must not lose at Basel to avoid what would be only the third group-stage exit in its history.
United last went out at this stage in 2005-06 and Wednesday's game will take place exactly five years to the day since the 2-1 loss at Benfica that abruptly curtailed its involvement in that season's tournament.
Back then, United needed a win to go through, but at Basel's St Jakob-Park stadium, a draw will suffice.
The host, though, will be gunning for a famous upset and, despite having only once reached the knockout rounds before, it will be buoyed by the 3-3 draw it took from Old Trafford in the first match-up on Sept 17.
A quick-fire Welbeck brace put United 2-0 up inside 17 minutes, but Basel hit back through Fabian Frei before an Alexander Frei double took it to the verge of a shock result, only for Ashley Young to head home a last-minute equalizer.
Alexander Frei - no relation to his younger team-mate - believes Basel's performance in Manchester gave Heiko Vogel's side belief it could compete with Europe's elite.
"The guys are really proud we got a 3-3 draw and it is something that will stay with them for the rest of their careers," the Swiss international striker said.
"But the way I see it, it was more important for the future in general - when it happens, it's absolutely amazing and something we may never experience again at Basel, but it shows that we have a future in UEFA competition."
Young's late goal preserved an unbeaten home record in European competition stretching back to 2005, and United is equally formidable on the road, having avoided defeat in its past eight away fixtures.
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