Manchester Derby: Alex Ferguson heads into tomorrow's Manchester derby admitting his side handed City three points on a plate at Maine Road in November.

It wasn't just the 3-1 reverse which had their fiery manager seething with rage, it was the abject manner of their performance which drew most venom.

Ferguson's scathing public condemnation of United's display that day was nothing compared to the rocket he fired in the dressing-room immediately after the match.

Careers were firmly on the line and some big names were in danger of being hustled out of the Old Trafford exit door.

Three months on - with pride restored by a run of 18 wins from 22 outings - Ferguson is calm again, anxious to play down talk of a revenge mission. But, despite all the success since, United's dismal display still rankles.

"It was a giveaway," he declared. "We threw three points right into the lap of our biggest rivals. I don't suppose they could believe their luck.

"It was disappointing to lose, but these things happen. You have to rise above the disappointment and get on with it."

As a local boy, Gary Neville felt the hurt more than most, especially as it was his blunder which gifted Shaun Goater the chance to restore City's lead just before half-time.

It might have been 13 years since United last lost to their local rivals, but it didn't ease the pain of defeat.

"We are all aware of how important the derby game is to the fans and some of the players will want to make amends for what happened at Maine Road," added Ferguson.

At the time, even Ferguson's job prospects were being called into question, with some pundits claiming the Scot had lost the plot and should have retired as planned last summer.

Yet, even as those obituaries were being penned, the Scot was shuffling his team around in an effort to ensure they were all primed and raring to go when the Christmas programme came into view.

"We were going through a period where we were changing the team a lot," he said.

"We had a lot of people out with operations and various other things and we were making decisions we hoped would benefit us later in the season. That has proved to be the case."

What Ferguson has seen most recently is six successive victories and nine out of the last 10, which has kept alive the dream of an unprecedented trophy four-timer.

Aside of the three points which would draw them level with table-toppers Arsenal, if only for a few hours ahead of their encounter with Newcastle at St James' Park, United are also defending an unbeaten home record against the neighbours which stretches back to 1974, the day Denis Law sent them down with a cheeky back-heel he didn't want to celebrate.

They are also looking to stave off what would only be the fourth league double City have recorded in their history, and the first for 33 years such is the stranglehold Ferguson and his managerial predecessors have maintained on the Mancunian showdown.

United's only area of injury concern surrounds the short-term fitness of Fabien Barthez, who has returned to training after missing Tuesday's win over Birmingham with hip and thigh injuries.

"It was a sore one," said the United boss. "He had a bit of swelling for a few days and it is still touch and go. But he has started running again and we will give him every chance."

One player who will definitely be involved is mercurial midfielder Paul Scholes, whose run of seven goals in six games from the turn of the year has made him a deserved winner of the Premiership player of the month award.

Meanwhile, City received a double derby boost yesterday when Peter Schmeichel and Eyal Berkovic were given the all-clear for tomorrow's game.

Schmeichel has missed City's last three games with a calf injury, but has recovered in time to make a return to his former club.

City boss Kevin Keegan was delighted to have Israeli playmaker Berkovic fit again.

"He has been looking stronger in training this week and we have missed him in the past three games," Keegan admitted.

"He has the ability to put in that killer pass and provide those deft touches in midfield."

With Berkovic back, Ali Benarbia is set to be relegated to the bench alongside Schmeichel's deputy Carlo Nash.