United banking on key players

LONDON – Manchester United’s slow start could be about to improve when two key players return from injury for its opening Champions League match at Sporting Lisbon tonight.

While Arsenal could again be without injured defender William Gallas against Sevilla in another of tonight’s eight matches, United will have Owen Hargreaves and Wayne Rooney back for its first Group F game. United has begun the defence of its Premier League title with just four goals in its opening six matches, although a tight defence means it is fourth in the standings.Rooney’s early return from a foot injury should boost the attack and help United in its bid to pick up points that could be crucial.United still has to contend with tough trips to AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev, who meet on Wednesday.United manager Alex Ferguson rested Rooney for Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Everton to keep the striker fresh for the trip to Portugal.Rooney could link up with or replace Carlos Tevez up front, while Hargreaves’ return is well timed since Darren Fletcher is out after injuring his knee playing for Scotland last week.With Hargreaves protecting the defence from a deep midfield role, Sporting could find it even harder to breach United’s back line even after winning three of its four league matches.Roma is hungry for revenge against United after being routed at Old Trafford 7-1 last season, but will have to wait until the next set of matches on October 2.Instead, it starts its Champions League season against visiting Dynamo Kiev.Roma took sole possession of the Italian league lead Sunday with a 2-0 win at Reggina, with Brazil defender Juan and captain Francesco Totti scoring the goals.Inter Milan, the defending Italian champion, is in second place in the standings after a 2-0 win over Catania and starts in Europe at Fenerbahce.Inter could be without Patrick Vieira after the midfielder played in France’s European Championship qualifiers against Scotland and Italy over the past two weeks despite a hamstring strain.Also in Group G, 1988 European champion PSV Eindhoven hosts CSKA Moscow.Arsenal warmed up for its Group H meeting with Uefa Cup champion Sevilla with a 3-1 win at local rival Tottenham.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in the process of rebuilding the side that lost the 2006 Champions League final to FC Barcelona, with Cesc Fabregas now the key playmaker and Emmanuel Adebayor increasingly influential in attack.Both scored against Spurs, and Wenger is confident of another good display against a Sevilla side coming off a 4-1 win over Recreativo Huelva.Sevilla, which is led up front by former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute, comes to north London with a perfect record in the Spanish league.It has played a game fewer than leader Real Madrid and is three points back.Barcelona is a point further behind and opens its Champions League campaign against visiting Lyon.Barcelona drew 0-0 with Osasuna, but should field Lionel Messi against the French champions after resting him Sunday, and has Thierry Henry looking for his first goal for the club.Nampa-APUnited has begun the defence of its Premier League title with just four goals in its opening six matches, although a tight defence means it is fourth in the standings.Rooney’s early return from a foot injury should boost the attack and help United in its bid to pick up points that could be crucial.United still has to contend with tough trips to AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev, who meet on Wednesday.United manager Alex Ferguson rested Rooney for Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win over Everton to keep the striker fresh for the trip to Portugal.Rooney could link up with or replace Carlos Tevez up front, while Hargreaves’ return is well timed since Darren Fletcher is out after injuring his knee playing for Scotland last week.With Hargreaves protecting the defence from a deep midfield role, Sporting could find it even harder to breach United’s back line even after winning three of its four league matches.Roma is hungry for revenge against United after being routed at Old Trafford 7-1 last season, but will have to wait until the next set of matches on October 2.Instead, it starts its Champions League season against visiting Dynamo Kiev.Roma took sole possession of the Italian league lead Sunday with a 2-0 win at Reggina, with Brazil defender Juan and captain Francesco Totti scoring the goals.Inter Milan, the defending Italian champion, is in second place in the standings after a 2-0 win over Catania and starts in Europe at Fenerbahce.Inter could be without Patrick Vieira after the midfielder played in France’s European Championship qualifiers against Scotland and Italy over the past two weeks despite a hamstring strain.Also in Group G, 1988 European champion PSV Eindhoven hosts CSKA Moscow.Arsenal warmed up for its Group H meeting with Uefa Cup champion Sevilla with a 3-1 win at local rival Tottenham.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in the process of rebuilding the side that lost the 2006 Champions League final to FC Barcelona, with Cesc Fabregas now the key playmaker and Emmanuel Adebayor increasingly influential in attack.Both scored against Spurs, and Wenger is confident of another good display against a Sevilla side coming off a 4-1 win over Recreativo Huelva.Sevilla, which is led up front by former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute, comes to north London with a perfect record in the Spanish league.It has played a game fewer than leader Real Madrid and is three points back.Barcelona is a point further behind and opens its Champions League campaign against visiting Lyon.Barcelona drew 0-0 with Osasuna, but should field Lionel Messi against the French champions after resting him Sunday, and has Thierry Henry looking for his first goal for the club.Nampa-AP