Ashley Young returns to the Manchester United squad after a five-match absence for Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Everton at Old Trafford.

Young has been sidelined by a knee injury but bolsters the Red Devils' wide options ahead of the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.

Phil Jones (shingles) and Michael Carrick (hip) have both recovered from the problems which prevented them reporting for international duty this week.

At the start of this season Marouane Fellaini scored the only goal at Goodison Park to put Everton in with a shot of their first league double over United since 1969.

``They have a genuine chance of being in the top four,'' said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

``The title race is between ourselves and City, but after that you've got Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and even Liverpool, who are starting to get more consistency after that result last weekend.

``But Everton are there on merit.

``They are a difficult opponent. They have only lost three games, so they are obviously hard to beat.

``And that's in the mould of David Moyes.

``He's made gradual progress because when he first took over he didn't have any money to spend.

``Given time you can do these things, which is the great value Everton have got out of David - each year he has progressed to good levels.''

Moyes is optimistic midfielder Fellaini will be available despite a hip injury.

Last Saturday Fellaini came to Everton's rescue with a brace to secure a 3-3 home draw with Aston Villa, and Moyes is optimistic the 25-year-old can again cause the current league leaders plenty of problems.

``He is coming back into a little bit of form,'' Moyes, whose team are fifth in the table, said.

``He scored a couple of goals for us last week and he is the sort of player who seems to enjoy the bigger games.

``He has got really bad bruising, but I think he will be okay.''

Phil Jagielka is expected to be involved despite sitting out England's 2-1 victory against Brazil, while fellow defenders Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Tony Hibbert (calf) remain sidelined.

akintun: man u to draw 3 - 3 .

lomzy1: RVP must score a brace today by God's grace. Amen. Its been long he scored.

ekhai: TODAY GONNA BE A JOYOUS ONE. FIRST UNITED GOING 12 POINTS CLEAR OFF MAN CITY AND SECONDLY, SUPER EAGLE LIFTING THE NATIONS CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA. WHAT A DAY TO BE ALIVE. UNITED FANS AND NIGERIANS START PUMPING CHAMPAIGN.

ekhai: UNITED FANS AND NIGERIANS START PUMPING CHAMPAIGN.

ujchief: United all the way!
This same fixture cost us the premiership last season, with those toffees coming from behind to deny us 3 points!
I pray we get a point here, I'm a realist, fergie and I will be satisfied with a point; I wouldn't want him to run down the main players with fatigue in light of wednesday fixture against madrid.
A point will give us a 10 point advantage with a healthy goal difference over city. That's fair enough.

Let him field 11 players from reserve; the likes of macheda, young, amos and co.

JayKayMaybachz: I PRAY GOD WE DEFEAT THOSE TOFFIES

S.GRACE:
Mancini publicly admited defeat by stating that his team has only 10
percent chance of defending their tittle. Hmmm how the cookies crumble. UNITED 4EVER!

JayKayMaybachz:
Weeks ago, he was boastin about how he's goon catch up with utd ... so what's givinq him the weak nerves na ??

aieromon:

A perfect valentine gift for Mukina.