Fergie to ring the changes

MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to make a significant number of changes to the side which beat Southampton 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday when the Reds take on Aston Villa at Old Trafford tonight.

An entirely-different defence is likely to be in place for the Premier League fixture.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar comes in for recent signing Anders Lindegaard, while Rafael should be available again after concussion and Patrice Evra has returned to Manchester after a family bereavement.

So, providing Nemanja Vidic has overcome a minor niggle and Rio Ferdinand has recovered from a groin injury which has kept him out of the last three games, it will be all-change at the back, in addition to the return of Dimitar Berbatov and, possibly, Wayne Rooney up front.