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Alex Ferguson Confirms Darron Gibson Will Start For Manchester United Against Besiktas

Northern Irishman handed chance to impress in Champions League…

Nov 24, 2009 4:55:23 PM

Darron Gibson, Manchester United (Goal.com)

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Darron Gibson, Manchester United (Goal.com)

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Darron Gibson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed at his press conference today that Darron Gibson will be in the starting line-up for tonight's Champions League clash with Besiktas at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old made 14 appearances for United last season and scored with a spectacular long-range strike at Hull City on the final day of the campaign.

Ferguson stayed tight-lipped about the rest of his line-up, but he has been hit hard by injuries, particularly at the back. Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans and Fabio da Silva are either out or serious doubts for the game.

"They're all out. Really it's a fight to get one of them for Saturday's game [against Portsmouth]. But I have my doubts," Ferguson told reporters.

"Sometimes it happens and you get good runs free of injury, and other times you don't. That's the value of having a good squad. It'll probably be the same back four as Saturday against Everton.

"Gary Neville didn't train today but I'm hoping he'll train on Wednesday so we will see how he is after that. We have plenty of options in midfield and in the front positions. It's just the back four that is causing us concern. I hope I get one or two more fit for Saturday."

Meanwhile, Ferguson also feels that his team's achievement of reaching back-to-back Champions League finals has not been given the credit it deserves.

Many of Europe's biggest names, including current holders Barcelona and Liverpool are struggling to get out of their groups this year and the Scot thinks that shows just how difficult consistent success is year after year.

"Barcelona could be out tonight and that shows how tough it is to retain the European Cup, as we nearly did last season," he said, according to The Daily Mirror.

"Maybe our achievement has been underestimated because you see how difficult Barcelona are finding it.

"But Barcelona are such a good team. They were my favourites to win it at the start of the competition.

"I think there are one or two more difficult groups than we anticipated. The one with Rubin Kazan, Barca, Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan is a real group of death.

"If Rubin Kazan win against Kiev and Inter and Barca draw, they could both be under the cosh.

"Real Madrid and AC Milan in the same group is difficult, Bayern Munich are struggling, and if Fiorentina beat Lyon, then that’s another big team out in Liverpool."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com UK

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