Roy Keane returns for Manchester United as they face one of the Premiership's new boys for the second time in four days.

Keane missed Sunday's win over last season's First Division champions Fulham as he completed a four-match suspension, but the Republic of Ireland midfielder is back in Alex Ferguson's plans for the trip to Ewood Park and the clash with Blackburn Rov ers.

Ferguson is expected to make changes to his defence which has given away early goals in the last three matches and there is an outside chance that Keane could play in the back four alongside Jaap Stam with Gary Neville reverting to his England full-back role.

Another option for the United boss is to bring in Wes Brown, who was a second-half substitute on Sunday, and he could also have Norwegian Ronny Johnsen in the squad after recovering from a training injury.

England midfielder Nicky Butt is also expected to be available after missing the Fulham game with the leg injury which ruled him out of last week's friendly against Holland.

Blackburn opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Derby and manager Greame Souness said: "I don't think there is any secret of how you play against United. If you sit back against them they are going to hammer you as they have so many attacking options."

Blackburn have a midfield mini-crisis with David Dunn (knee) and Tugay (thigh) both sidelined. Craig Hignett is expected to start.

Sunderland V Fulham

Sunderland boss Peter Reid insists he will have no qualms about throwing unsettled midfielder Don Hutchison into tonight's clash with Fulham.

The 30-year-old Scottish international missed Saturday's opening-day victory over Ipswich through suspension, as intense speculation mounted over his future.

Reid yesterday admitted that he has received more than one offer for the player he took to the Stadium of Light from Everton for a bargain £2.5million last summer.

Reid will be looking for another lightning display from Kevin Phillips, who launched his latest assault on a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad with the only goal of the game from the penalty spot against George Burley's side.

Jean Tigana has been buoyed by defender Rufus Brevett's return after serving his one-match ban at the weekend but striker Luis Boa Morte has missed only one fixture of his three-game suspension, meaning he must sit out the date. Lee Clark's Achilles tendon problem prevented him from playing at Old Trafford and is not expected to be fit.