Sir Alex Ferguson is pondering whether to stick with the burgeoning strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez or go with a three-man central midfield in Kyiv on Tuesday night.

UNITED recovered from an early scare to ease to victory over nine-man Aston villa. The home side had taken the lead through Gabriel Agbonlahor, but United big guns Wayne Rooney (two) Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs ensured the Reds jumped back up to second in the Premier League table.

Wayne Rooney was left "gutted" after England threw away a single-goal lead in Moscow last night.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher is in line for a surprise comeback for Scotland on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old suffered a broken leg while playing for the national team against France last month.

But Scotland boss Alex McLeish has called him into his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Georgia.

Darren Fletcher’s Scotland pulled off one of their greatest results on Wednesday night, beating France 1-0 at the Parc de Princes, but it came at a cost to the United midfielder.

Injury forced Fletcher off after just 26 minutes of the tie, but Scotland held firm throughout and snatched a dramatic and unlikely winner when James McFadden hit a wonder-strike from 30 yards.

Patrice Evra has hailed Manchester United teammates Darren Fletcher as an "unbelievable player".

The pair will lock horns this week when France face Scotland in their Euro2008 qualifier and Evra said: "Darren is an unbelievable player. He can run all day and has great technique and vision.

"He's the complete midfielder and one of the best I have ever played with.

Manchester United managed to break down a stubborn Sunderland to record a second successive 1-0 victory.

Roy Keane, on his return to Old Trafford, had his Sunderland side organised and solid but on 70 minutes the deadlock was finally broken by French striker Louis Saha.

United winger Nani whipped in a corner and the powerful striker got himself in front of Craig Gordon to head home.