Manchester United's crucial month ahead:

Middlesbrough (home) FA Cup

Tomorrow

Middlesbrough have already proved difficult to overcome at Old Trafford once this season, holding United to a Premiership draw in October. Steve McClaren's men also dumped the United out of the FA Cup on home soil three years ago, so will not be fazed by this fourth round clash.

Arsenal (away) Premiership

Tuesday, February 1st

A clash of the titans at Highbury which neither side can afford not to win. United's recent away record against Arsene Wenger's men is not the best, but Ferguson seems to have discovered the Londoners' Achilles' heel, and three wins from the last four competitive meetings suggests they can head to the English capital with a degree of confidence.

Manchester City (away) Premiership

Sunday, February 13th

City may be the most inconsistent side in the top flight, but their recent results against their old rivals make for happy reading. Battled their way to a goalless draw at Old Trafford earlier this season, but it's the memories of successive 3-1 and 4-1 home wins that will cause Ferguson some anxious moments ahead of this televised clash.

AC Milan (home) Champions League

Wednesday, February 23rd

With so many heavyweights drawn together, victory at this stage will offer realistic hopes that Ferguson's side can emulate their famous triumph in 1999. But a Milan side containing Andrei Shevchenko, Kaka and old boy Jaap Stam offers the severest of tests and anything other than a first leg win on home soil could leave the Old Trafford men struggling to reach the last eight.