By Alan G
February 24 2006

Don't expect an immediate match report everyone. This will be the most momentous (so-far) day in Latics history and I will be soaking it up in Cardiff, probably sinking a pint or ten in the name of the Blues! Latics striker Jason Roberts is set to return to the starting line-up after completing a three-match suspension.

Defender Stephane Henchoz (knee) trained on Thursday and should be fit, although with a glut of midfield options, Jewell may choose Scharner in central defence with de Zeeuw.

Reto Ziegler, Lee McCulloch and Gary Teale are all vying for a wide midfield role.

Ryan Taylor’s broken metatarsal definitely rules him out.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been passed fit after missing the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool with a hamstring injury.

John O'Shea is also available after recovering from fractured ribs.

Two points of view have been aired regarding the tensions before the match. Manchester United are in danger of finishing the season without silverware and while this could spur them onto victory, it could also be the pressure that becomes their downfall.

Latics have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. They can go out and enjoy themselves.

Jason Roberts: "It's a great occasion, and whoever goes out there will want to enjoy it and give their best and have no regrets afterwards."

Roberts also revealed that playing for a club that has never had so much success before made a refreshing change than playing for a club with a rich history.

"One of the great feelings about playing for this club is the feeling that we are writing history. A lot of other clubs have already done certain things in the past, but this is a new chapter for us all.

"A lot of the players here have never played in a cup final before. There have been a lot of firsts this season, and we want this to be another one.

"We've already played big games this season. We played Chelsea on the first day of the season, then the Arsenal game, and now this one. It's hard to distinguish between them because I haven't encountered a bigger game than the Reading one at the end of last season."

"That was unbelievable, anyone who was there will appreciate what it was like. It was an amazing atmosphere, and the cup final will do well to be better than that."

Latics (from): Pollitt, Filan, Chimbonda, Jackson, Baines, De Zeeuw, Henchoz, Teale, Bullard, Kavanagh, Thompson, McCulloch, Scharner, Johansson, Camara, Mellor, Francis, Mahon, Ziegler, Roberts.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Howard, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, O'Shea, Richardson, Ronaldo, Park, Giggs, Fletcher, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy, Saha, Rossi, Bardsley.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffs).