Manchester United [Images] are banking on the return of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy [Images] to give them the edge in Wednesday's heavyweight Champions League match against AC Milan at Old Trafford.

While the Italian champions must cope without their top forward Andriy Shevchenko, Van Nistelrooy has recovered from injury and will bid to improve his astonishing record of 36 goals in 37 Champions League matches for the English side.

"You see his record in Europe, it's the best," United manager Alex Ferguson said before the first knockout round first-leg match. "He's a different animal in Europe."

Van Nistelrooy scored eight goals in five Champions League games this season before being sidelined for three months with an Achilles injury, .

"We'd have loved him to have games under his belt but we don't have any concern. We may put him in cold but if he plays in Europe you know he'll score," Ferguson said.

Van Nistelrooy is likely to start alongside England's [Images] Wayne Rooney [Images] who has carried his side's attack recently with Louis Saha and Alan Smith also on the injured list.

Rooney claimed a hat-trick on his United debut against Fenerbahce in September and has already scored 13 goals for his new club.

Ferguson's men are in terrific form, racking up their eighth victory in nine matches in an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Everton on Saturday, and Milan are also confident after clawing back Juventus's lead at the top of Serie A.

Serginho's late winner against Cagliari on Saturday lifted the Milan side above their Turin rivals on goal difference.

The absence of European Footballer of the Year Shevchenko reduces coach Carlo Ancelotti's attacking options but he still has quality to call on, with Dane Jon Dahl Tomasson likely to partner Argentine Hernan Crespo [Images] in front of Brazilian Kaka [Images].

MIDFIELD FULCRUM

Milan's midfield fulcrum Andrea Pirlo is fit again after suffering a knee injury playing for Italy [Images] and defender Alessandro Nesta has recovered from flu.

The Italy international is expected to start in central defence alongside Dutchman Jaap Stam who makes his first return to Old Trafford since leaving United in controversial circumstances in 2001.

If United have a slight edge on current form, the history books favour the Italians.

Six-times European champions to United's two, Milan have won both previous clashes between the sides in the continent's top club competition.

The Italians knocked United out in the 1958 semi-finals, shortly after the English club's Busby Babes were all but wiped out in the Munich air crash, and Milan ended the Old Trafford side's defence of the trophy at the semi-final stage in 1969.

Probable teams:

Manchester United: 13-Roy Carroll; 2-Gary Neville; 5-Rio Ferdinand, 27-Mikael Silvestre, 4-Gabriel Heinze; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo [Images], 16-Roy Keane, 18-Paul Scholes, 11-Ryan Giggs; 8-Wayne Rooney, 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy.

AC Milan: 1-Dida; 2-Cafu, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 31-Jaap Stam 3-Paolo Maldini; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 20-Clarence Seedorf; 22-Kaka, 15-Jon Dahl Tomasson, 11-Hernan Crespo.

Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)

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